A recent international economic report by Visual Capitalist has ranked Yemen as the second poorest country in the world for 2025, with a GDP per capita of less than $400 per year, placing it just above South Sudan, which topped the list.

The report highlights Yemen’s deepening economic collapse, with the national currency losing value, poverty and unemployment rates soaring, and public services on the verge of total breakdown.

Experts warn that the ongoing political division and armed conflict are pushing the country toward an irreversible humanitarian and financial catastrophe unless immediate reforms are implemented.

They stress the urgent need for a national recovery plan focused on currency stabilization, fiscal unification, and social protection for the most vulnerable.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stern warning to Yemen’s Houthi militia, declaring that Israel has not said its final word and that the group will pay a heavy price for its attacks.

Speaking at an officer graduation ceremony at the “Bahad 1” military base in southern Israel, Gallant stated:

“The Houthis will pay dearly for their attempts to strike Israel. We haven’t spoken our final word yet.”

The Houthis have ramped up attacks toward Israeli territory and ships in the Red Sea since the war in Gaza began. The group claims the operations are in support of Palestine, while Israel accuses them of acting under Iran’s regional agenda as part of the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”

Analysts say Gallant’s remarks signal the growing likelihood of a broader regional confrontation expanding across the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.

The Houthi militia in Yemen has reportedly forced several employees of the World Food Programme (WFP) detained in its custody to make coerced confessions under threat, accusing them of spying for Israel, according to security sources who spoke to Al-Mashhad Al-Yemeni.

The sources said the Houthi Intelligence Service compelled the detainees to admit to espionage charges amid growing fears for their safety — particularly for Ammar Nasser, WFP’s Head of Safety and Security in Yemen, who was personally accused of spying by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi in his latest speech.

The accusations came shortly after the WFP suspended most of its relief operations in Houthi-held areas due to large-scale violations and the diversion of aid supplies to Houthi fighters and affiliates.

Observers warn that this escalation could severely strain relations between the Houthis and international humanitarian organizations, worsening Yemen’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Some fear that the detained staff may face execution, recalling previous incidents in which Houthis executed civilians in Tihama over similar “espionage” charges following the assassination of their former political chief, Saleh al-Sammad.

In a new escalation, Houthi militants stormed a Salafi mosque in the Zuraja area of Al-Hadda District, Dhamar Province, detaining several clerics and closing the mosque, according to local sources. The move marks a clear breach of the 2015 “Coexistence and Brotherhood” agreement between the Houthis and Yemen’s Salafi movement.

Witnesses said Houthi forces raided the mosque during dawn prayers, confiscated its contents, and transferred the mosque’s caretakers to an undisclosed location.
This attack comes amid a broader campaign targeting Salafi centers and preachers, particularly those affiliated with scholar Mohammed al-Imam.

 Background of the Agreement

The 2015 “Coexistence and Brotherhood” pact was meant to ensure that Salafis would remain politically neutral in exchange for the freedom to run their mosques and schools without interference.
However, since 2018, the Houthis have shut down dozens of Salafi institutions in Sanaa, Saada, and Dhamar, and arrested many clerics under the pretext of “ideological deviation.”

A Pattern of Religious Persecution

Human rights groups report that since the Houthi coup in 2014, over 800 mosques have been destroyed, confiscated, or repurposed by the militia.
In 2024, they closed the Tablighi Jamaat Center in Hodeidah and detained dozens of its members, citing “violations of Houthi doctrine.”

Analysts view the latest attack as part of a wider sectarian purge aimed at consolidating ideological control and eliminating competing religious voices.

 Political and Sectarian Dimensions

According to Yemeni researcher Abdulkarim al-Shumeiri, “The Houthis see the Salafis as a long-term intellectual threat. Even if they remain apolitical, their Sunni doctrine fundamentally contradicts the Houthi ideology of divine leadership.”

Observers believe this assault sends a message of intimidation to other religious groups in Houthi-controlled areas:
“Submit to the group’s authority—or face suppression.”

The Houthi militia in Sana’a announced today the death of Mohammed Abdul Karim al-Ghamari, the so-called Chief of Staff in its unrecognized government, along with several of his bodyguards, according to a statement released by the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree.

The Houthis stated that al-Ghamari “was martyred along with some of his escorts and his son,” without specifying the location or time of his death, noting only that he was killed in one of the American or Israeli airstrikes targeting the group’s leaders over the past two years.

The announcement comes weeks after an Israeli airstrike in September that targeted senior Houthi officials, killing the group’s prime minister and several ministers. At the time, the Houthis remained silent about al-Ghamari’s fate, fueling speculation that he had been wounded or killed in the same attack.

Mohammed al-Ghamari was considered one of the most powerful military commanders in the Houthi ranks. He oversaw multiple battlefronts and played a key role in maritime operations against ships in the Red Sea. He was listed among the U.S. sanctions targets and wanted by the Saudi-led coalition.

Observers believe today’s announcement is an attempt by the Houthis to end months of ambiguity surrounding the fate of one of their top commanders, as U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen continue to escalate.

A moving photo from Taiz, Yemen, has gone viral, showing a father named Sanan al-Tebeei carrying his disabled son on his back every day from their remote village to the university. The image has touched millions, becoming a powerful symbol of love, determination, and sacrifice.

Despite years of hardship, Sanan refuses to give up, determined to see his son complete his education. The photo spread rapidly across social media, earning widespread admiration and emotional reactions from users around the world.

Journalist Ahmed Ghurab commented on the photo, writing:

“Imagine this old father, with white hair, carrying his disabled son every single day. Isn’t he the one who deserves the highest medal of honor? This picture should be recognized as the most inspiring image of the year.”

Ghurab called on authorities to honor the father with a vehicle and provide an electric wheelchair for his son as a gesture of appreciation for his humanity and perseverance.

Captured in front of a university in Taiz, this photo has become more than just a local story—it’s a universal reminder that true love is measured not by words, but by selfless actions that move hearts everywhere.

The Wayne County Court in Michigan has sentenced Amir Patterson, 31, known as the “Soul Reaper of Rouge,” to 75 years to life in prison for the murder of Yemeni-American humanitarian Bushra Al-Maawari, 36, and the injury of another man in a shooting spree last summer.

Bushra Al-Maawari, founder of the charity “Hand in Hand Yemen,” was widely recognized for her tireless efforts to help malnourished children in Yemen.

The tragedy occurred on June 1, 2023, when Patterson drove to his ex-girlfriend’s home in Westland, Michigan, and opened fire indiscriminately. Al-Maawari, who was visiting a colleague at the residence, was shot while trying to escape and later died in the hospital. A 32-year-old man was also wounded but survived.

During sentencing, prosecutors presented Patterson’s criminal history, including a 2016 manslaughter conviction, describing him as a “dangerous repeat offender with no remorse.”

Emotions ran high in the courtroom as one family member of the victim threw a water bottle at Patterson in anger. The judge handed down one of the harshest possible sentences, declaring:

“Justice has been served for Bushra Al-Maawari — a kind woman whose selflessness was driven by her desire to help others.”