The Shocking Truth: Weapons Dealers in Yemen Using Social Media Platform X to Sell Illegal Arms
In a startling revelation, weapons dealers in Yemen have been openly using the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to sell a variety of illegal arms including Kalashnikovs, pistols, grenades, and grenade-launchers. The traders are operating in the capital Sana’a and other areas controlled by the Houthis, a rebel group backed by Iran and labeled as terrorists by the US and Australian governments.
Former British Ambassador to Yemen, Edmund Fitton-Brown, expressed disbelief that the weapons dealers are not operating on behalf of the Houthis, as purely private dealers attempting to profit from supplying the Yemeni government would be swiftly shut down.
An investigation by The Times newspaper uncovered that several Yemeni accounts selling arms on the platform were verified with the blue tick. Despite attempts by The Times and the BBC to reach out to X for comment, no response has been received thus far. The platform's content moderators were largely laid off following its acquisition by Elon Musk in 2022.
Advertisements for these illegal arms are predominantly in Arabic and target Yemeni customers, a country where the number of guns is rumored to surpass the population by three to one. The weapons are advertised with enticing phrases like "premium craftsmanship and top-notch warranty" and "the Yemeni-modified AK is your best choice."
These ads are not hidden on the dark web but are openly accessible on X, attracting millions of viewers. Commenting on this issue, UK-based NGO Tech Against Terrorism has issued a plea for tech platforms to actively remove Houthi-supporting content on the internet and social media.
The Houthis, a mountain-based tribal minority, seized power in Yemen in 2014, leading to a seven-year conflict with a failed attempt by Saudi Arabia to remove them. The Houthis, armed with drones and missiles supplied by Iran, have been targeting commercial and naval shipping in the Red Sea, causing disruptions to trade passing through Egypt's Suez Canal.
In summary, the open sale of illegal arms on social media platforms poses a significant threat to regional stability and global security. It is crucial for tech companies and governments to take action to prevent the proliferation of such dangerous weapons and curb the influence of armed groups like the Houthis in conflict zones like Yemen.