Riyadh to give $2b boost to Yemen riyal
GOVERNMENT TROOPS CONTINUE TO MAKE GAINS IN THE AL HOUTHI HEARTLAND OF SA’ADA
Salman’s order follows urgent request by prime minister of Yemen’s internationally recognised government
S audi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz ordered the transfer of $2 billion (Dh7.35 billion) to Yemen yesterday, a day after Yemen’s Saudibacked prime minister made an urgent appeal to the kingdom and its allies to save the local currency from “complete collapse”.
Prime Minister Ahmad Obeid Bin Daghir had called on the kingdom and its allies to act “now, not tomorrow,” and said saving the Yemeni riyal means “saving Yemenis from inevitable famine”. For nearly three years, the Saudi-led coalition has been battling Iran-backed Al Houthi militants in support of the internationally-recognised government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Last year, the Saudi and internationally-backed Yemeni government created an alternative Central Bank from the one in militia-held Sana’a, moving it to the southern port city of Aden.
They accuse Al Houthis of stealing government revenues meant for public services and of manipulating the exchange rate.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Hadi discussed with Brigadier Obeid Al Athela, a senior army commander on Sa’ada front, fresh territorial gains in some parts of Sa’ada.
Sa’ada offensive
Backed by intense air cover by the Saudi-led coalition, government troops have moved deep into Sa’ada after taking control of new areas in Bouqa in Ketaf district, east of Sa’ada city.
Al Athela said on Tuesday that his forces were 10km into Ketaf and were fighting their way into the district’s main centre.
Taking advantage of the crumbling of an uneasy alliance with ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh and Al Houthis in December, Yemen’s army has escalated military operations on all fronts and scored major gains, including liberating parts of Bouqa for the first time since the beginning of the war in 2015.
Yemen’s Defence Ministry yesterday announced killing and injuring dozens of militia during the current offensive in Sa’ada.