Yemen's Weapon Trade on X: A Disturbing Digital Marketplace

[Social Media]

 

In a grim and troubling turn of events, weapons dealers in Yemen are leveraging the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to openly market and sell a range of deadly arms. The offerings include everything from Kalashnikovs and pistols to grenades and grenade launchers, with these transactions occurring in broad daylight on a platform accessible to millions worldwide.

 

These dealers, operating primarily in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a and other territories under the control of the Houthis, are not just selling weapons but are doing so with apparent impunity. The Houthis, a rebel group with backing from Iran, have been labeled as terrorists by both the United States and Australian governments. The fact that such transactions are taking place so openly has raised serious concerns about the Houthis' involvement in these sales.

 

Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former British Ambassador to Yemen who now works with the Counter Extremism Project, voiced his alarm about the situation, stating, "It is inconceivable that they [the weapons dealers] are not operating on the Houthis’ behalf." Fitton-Brown's comments highlight the likelihood that these arms dealers are not independent operators but are likely working under the auspices or with the tacit approval of the Houthi leadership. He further suggested that any purely private dealers attempting to supply weapons to other entities, such as the Yemeni government, would likely face swift retribution and be shut down.

 

The scope of this illegal arms trade was uncovered by an investigation conducted by The Times, which found several Yemeni accounts on X, some of which bore the platform’s blue tick of verification. The verification symbol, once a marker of authenticity and credibility, is now being used by arms dealers to lend legitimacy to their operations, a development that is as ironic as it is alarming.

 

Both The Times and the BBC have reached out to X for a response regarding these findings, but as of yet, the social media platform has remained silent. This silence is particularly concerning given that most of X's content moderation team was laid off following Elon Musk's acquisition of the company in 2022. The lack of moderation has seemingly turned X into a haven for illicit activities, including the sale of weapons in war-torn regions like Yemen.

 

The advertisements posted by these Yemeni weapons dealers are predominantly in Arabic, targeting local customers in a country where firearms are ubiquitous. It is often said that in Yemen, the number of guns outnumbers the population by a ratio of three to one. The BBC found numerous online advertisements offering weapons at prices listed in both Yemeni and Saudi riyals. These advertisements are not shy about the products they are selling. Instead, they use persuasive language to attract buyers, boasting of the quality and reliability of their merchandise.

 

One advertisement proclaims, "Premium craftsmanship and top-notch warranty," while promoting a modified AK-47 as "your best choice." Another ad includes a demonstration video, shot at night, showing a seller firing a 30-round magazine on full automatic. Yet another listing offers sand-colored Glock pistols, produced in Pakistan, for around $900 each. These ads, designed to entice potential buyers, are not hidden away in obscure corners of the internet or the Dark Web, where illegal transactions typically occur. Instead, they are in plain sight on X, visible and accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

 

The blatant visibility of these weapons ads on a major social media platform has sparked calls for urgent action. Tech Against Terrorism, a UK-based NGO, has issued a plea to technology platforms, urging them to take immediate and decisive action to remove Houthi-supporting content from the internet and social media. The organization's concern is not just about the sale of weapons but also about the broader implications of allowing terrorist groups to use these platforms to spread their influence and fund their operations.

 

The Houthis, a tribal minority based in Yemen's mountainous regions, seized power in 2014, toppling the UN-recognized government. Since then, Yemen has been plunged into a devastating civil war, with a Saudi-led military campaign failing to dislodge the Houthis from power. The conflict has resulted in widespread suffering, with Yemen experiencing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

 

In late 2023, the Houthis, who possess a significant arsenal of drones and missiles, many of which are supplied by Iran, escalated their operations by targeting commercial and naval shipping in the Red Sea. These attacks, they claim, are in support of Palestinians in Gaza. However, many of the targeted vessels have no direct connection to Israel, leading to widespread condemnation of the Houthis' actions. The US-led maritime force stationed offshore has been unable to prevent these attacks, which have severely disrupted trade routes through the Suez Canal, a vital artery for global commerce.

 

The revelation that weapons dealers in Yemen are using X to facilitate their trade adds another layer of complexity to an already dire situation. It raises serious questions about the responsibility of social media platforms in preventing the spread of violence and terrorism. The ease with which these dealers can operate on X, coupled with the platform’s apparent lack of oversight, suggests a troubling trend where digital spaces are being exploited by those who seek to profit from chaos and conflict.

 

As Yemen continues to grapple with the consequences of a protracted civil war, the international community must confront the reality that social media platforms, once heralded as tools for connection and communication, are now being used to fuel violence and instability. The need for robust and effective regulation of these platforms has never been more urgent. Without decisive action, the situation in Yemen could serve as a grim precedent for how technology can be misused in conflict zones, with devastating consequences for peace and security.

 

Credit: BBC  2024-08-24

 

 

 

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[retarius]

I've never been to Aden (or Yemen) but have heard it is desperately poor and has had an awful lot of bombs dropped on it by Saudi and the US.

So, to my way of thinking, it's not desperately surprising that people turn to arms dealing or even drug dealing over the internet to make a few bob, especially when you have to buy expensive rockets to attack Red Sea shipping with.

Sadly, the people most likely to prosper from this black market trade (are you allowed to say black market these days, if not I apologise for being an insensitive bigot?) tend to be ruthless, vicious types, and probably terrorists to boot.

At the present time, my personal need for machine guns, rocket launchers and tanks is negligible ie zero, so I am not in the market for these wares. 

[candide]

No no! Don't regulate X. That would be restricting free speech! 😀

[Rimmer]

I have been to Yemen, traveled by road from Sana'a to Ta'izz and to Al Hudaydah, It's a place I would never ever want to go again, poor doesn't even describe it, all the males wear a curved a dagger like it is a necktie.

 

I was held up on the road by a gang of youths carrying such automatic weapons as shown in the picture, they were backed up by a tank and were all stoned on the locally grown ghat.

They wanted my passport but I was able to get out of the situation by speaking a little of my very limited Arabic to them.

 

I could not get back to the airport fast enough for my flight back to Sharjah, even that was a drama, the third engine above the cabin on the ancient Yemen Air 727 misfired and banged all the way home, never again...