Yemen : Houthis Launch Expansive Levy Campaign Across Multiple Governorates

Sana’a — The Houthi militia has in recent days initiated a sweeping levy campaign across its areas of control, targeting businesses and private establishments in Sana’a, Ibb, Dhamar, Hodeidah, Amran, Hajjah, Saada, and extending into parts of Taiz, Al-Bayda, and Al-Jawf.

According to Yemeni sources who spoke to Erem News, the campaign was formally approved by Houthi leadership in late May as part of efforts to mobilize resources for upcoming occasions. In recent days, its scope widened to include major importers, currency exchange companies, wholesale traders, fuel stations, and high-activity enterprises since the start of the year.

Local tax offices and municipal authorities reportedly received lists of targeted businesses before notifying owners of the amounts imposed, calculated against import records, previous payments, and activity levels. Several establishments have since suspended operations or halted transactions after refusing to comply or disputing the demands.

The sources noted that the Houthis began collections days before Eid al-Adha under the label “supporting occasion activities,” later renewing demands in preparation for what the group calls “Day of Wilayah.” This left many traders facing two separate rounds of payments within less than three weeks.

Each business received individual notices specifying the sum and the designated collector, without any unified explanation of the calculation basis. Some companies faced overlapping demands from tax, zakat, and local authorities, alongside obligations to provide vehicles, fuel, and meals for Houthi-organized events.

Payment methods varied between cash handed to authorized envoys, transfers through selected exchange firms, and deposits into accounts not linked to official government entities. In certain cases, importers were compelled to supply fuel, foodstuffs, or transport services instead of cash.

Traders rarely received recognized tax receipts for these payments, which were instead recorded under vague categories such as “community contributions,” “event support,” or “emergency expenses.” As a result, the levies function as coercive exactions that do not offset future tax liabilities, further burdening the private sector under Houthi control.