Yemeni Arms Dealers Utilize Social Media Platform X for Illegal Sales

In a startling development, weapons dealers in Yemen are exploiting the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, to peddle an array of firearms including Kalashnikovs, pistols, grenades, and grenade-launchers. These transactions are taking place primarily in the capital city of Sana’a and other regions controlled by the Houthis, a rebel group backed by Iran and designated as a terrorist organization by both the US and Australian governments.

Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former British Ambassador to Yemen now affiliated with the Counter Extremism Project, has expressed disbelief over the apparent lack of action against these dealers. “It is inconceivable that they are not operating on the Houthis’ behalf,” Fitton-Brown remarked. “Private dealers attempting to sell arms to entities like the Yemeni government would face swift intervention.”

A recent investigation by The Times uncovered that some of the Yemeni accounts engaged in these transactions were verified with blue ticks. Despite inquiries from  X has not provided any comments on the issue. The platform’s content moderation capabilities have been significantly reduced following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company in 2022, leading to concerns about the enforcement of policies against such illegal activities.

The ads are predominantly in Arabic, targeting Yemeni buyers in a nation where firearms are said to outnumber the population by a ratio of three to one. several online listings where weapons are offered at prices listed in Yemeni and Saudi riyals. One advertisement highlights “premium craftsmanship and top-notch warranty,” promoting the “Yemeni-modified AK” as an ideal choice. Another post showcases a demonstration video where the seller fires a 30-round magazine on full automatic. Additionally, sand-colored Glock pistols, produced in Pakistan, are available for approximately $900 each.

Remarkably, these listings are not hidden in the depths of the Dark Web but are openly visible on X, accessible to millions. In response, the UK-based NGO Tech Against Terrorism has issued a critical call for tech platforms to actively remove content that supports the Houthis.

The Houthis, a tribal group from Yemen’s mountainous regions, seized power in 2014, overthrowing the UN-recognized government. Despite a seven-year military intervention by neighboring Saudi Arabia, the Houthis remain entrenched, and Yemen has plunged further into civil war. By late 2023, the Houthis had expanded their arsenal to include drones and missiles, many reportedly supplied by Iran. Their recent attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea, which they claim are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have had severe repercussions for international shipping. Many targeted vessels had no connection to Israel, exacerbating the crisis in maritime trade through Egypt’s Suez Canal.

The situation underscores the urgent need for more effective regulation and enforcement on social media platforms to prevent the illegal sale of weapons and other illicit activities.