Yemen : Houthis Introduce New 200-Rial Banknote
According to the bank's statement, the new note is intended to replace heavily worn 200 and 250-rial bills that have deteriorated due to overuse. Officials emphasized that the new currency was printed to meet international standards and would not affect exchange rates or increase inflation, as it merely substitutes damaged notes.
This move comes amid a broader currency war between Yemen's rival central banks in Sana'a and Aden, each operating under different authorities. The internationally recognized government in Aden has previously condemned similar Houthi-issued currencies as counterfeit, warning that such unilateral actions deepen the country's economic fragmentation.
As Yemen's financial landscape grows increasingly polarized, the new 200-rial note symbolizes more than just a monetary update—it reflects the deepening divide in governance, legitimacy, and economic control.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yemen Online
4 hours ago
- Yemen Online
Houthi Land Seizure Campaign Sparks Outrage in Yemen's Saada Governorate
Saada –Residents of the Al-Safra District in Saada Governorate have expressed mounting anger over a large-scale campaign by the Houthi group to confiscate private property under the pretext of expanding a religious events area known as the 'Al-Rasoul Al-Azam Square.' According to local reports, armed Houthi forces and heavy machinery were deployed in the 'Mahatat Al-Kharsah' area to demolish at least seven residential homes and commercial shops without prior legal notice or compensation. The move, which aims to widen the square by 30 to 40 square meters, has displaced families and shut down vital sources of livelihood. Witnesses allege that dozens of residents were coerced into signing land relinquishment documents, while others who refused were arrested. One shop owner stated that his store was leveled 'without even a chance to remove inventory.' Civil society voices have condemned the campaign as a form of collective punishment and property rights violation, especially given past incidents where Houthis seized lands—such as in Gholfaqan—promising temporary use for religious events, only to retain the property permanently and block owners' access.
Yemen Online
8 hours ago
- Yemen Online
Israeli Defense Minister Warns Houthis of Harsh Retaliation Following Missile Attacks
Aden – Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has issued a stern warning to Yemen's Houthi movement, declaring that the group will face 'severe consequences' for its continued missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and maritime interests. Speaking after Israeli airstrikes reportedly hit Houthi military infrastructure in Yemen's Hodeidah port, Gallant stated, 'The fate of Yemen will mirror that of Tehran. We will act forcefully, anywhere and anytime, to protect Israel.' He emphasized that the Israeli Air Force had bombed facilities used to rebuild Houthi capabilities, including fuel tanks, engineering equipment, and vessels suspected of military use. The strikes come in response to recent Houthi claims of launching ballistic missiles and drones toward Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Eilat. The Israeli military confirmed intercepting several projectiles and accused the Houthis of escalating regional tensions under Iranian influence. Israel has reportedly urged the United States to resume joint military operations against the Houthis, citing the group's growing threat to Red Sea navigation and international shipping lanes. The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have framed their attacks as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. However, Israeli officials view the group's actions as part of a broader Iranian-backed axis seeking to destabilize the region.
Yemen Online
8 hours ago
- Yemen Online
Fears of escalation after Israel hits Houthi-held Yemen port
Israel pounded Yemen's Houthi-held port of Hodeida with air strikes on Monday for the second time in a month, stoking fears of escalation as it warned Yemen could face the same fate as Iran. Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen have come under repeated Israeli strikes since the militia began launching missile and drone attacks on Israel, declaring they act in solidarity with Palestinians over the Gaza war. In its latest raids, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel struck 'targets of the Houthi terror regime at the port of Hodeida' and aimed to prevent any attempt to restore infrastructure previously hit. The renewed strikes on Yemen are part of a year-long Israeli bombing campaign against the Houthis, but the latest threats have raised fears of a wider conflict in the poverty-stricken Arabian Peninsula country. 'Yemen's fate will be the same as Tehran's,' Katz said. His warning was a reference to the wave of suprise strikes Israel launched on Iran on June 13, targeting key military and nuclear facilities. During the 12-day war, the United States carried out its own attacks on Iran's nuclear program on June 22, striking facilities at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. Any Israeli escalation could 'plunge the region into utter chaos,' said a Gulf official, requesting anonymity because he cannot brief the media. The Houthis' Al-Masirah television reported 'a series of Israeli air strikes on the Hodeida port.' A Houthi security official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that 'the bombing destroyed the port's dock, which had been rebuilt following previous strikes.' On July 7, Israeli strikes hit Hodeida and two nearby locations on the coast, with targets including the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, captured in November 2023, which the Israelis said had been outfitted with a radar system to track shipping in the Red Sea. A Yemeni port employee in Hodeida said the strikes targeted 'heavy equipment brought in for construction and repair work after Israeli airstrikes on July 7... and areas around the port and fishing boats.' An Israeli military statement said that the targets included 'engineering vehicles... fuel containers, naval vessels used for military activities' against Israel and 'additional terror infrastructure used by the Houthi terrorist regime.' It said the port had been used to transfer weapons from Iran, which were then used by the Houthis against Israel. The statement added that Israel had identified efforts by the Iran-backed rebels to 're-establish terrorist infrastructure at the port.' The Houthis recently resumed deadly attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting ships they accuse of having links to Israel.
