The social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, has become an unexpected marketplace for weapons dealers in Yemen, selling arms openly to a conflict-ridden nation.

The revelations come as part of an investigation by The Times, which found that traders in the capital Sana’a and other areas controlled by the Houthi rebel group are using the platform to offer a range of military hardware, including Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, grenades, and grenade-launchers.

Open Arms Market

The Times’ investigation reveals that these weapons advertisements are prominently displayed and readily accessible on X, not hidden in the shadows of the Dark Web where illicit transactions are typically conducted.

The sellers, operating under the shadow of the Houthis—a rebel group backed by Iran and deemed a terrorist organization by the US and Australian governments—are using X’s wide reach to target Yemeni customers in a nation where firearms are reportedly more numerous than the population itself.

Several of the Yemeni accounts involved in this trade are verified with the blue tick, a status that raises questions about the platform’s content moderation.

The BBC and The Times have reached out to X for comments but have yet to receive responses. The lack of active content moderation, a result of mass layoffs following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the company in 2022, seems to have facilitated the flourishing of this dangerous marketplace.

Weapons in Plain Sight

The advertisements on X are predominantly in Arabic and feature eye-catching claims to entice buyers. One ad boasts of “Premium craftsmanship and top-notch warranty” for Yemeni-modified AK-47s, while another showcases sand-colored Pakistani-produced Glock pistols priced at around $900 each.

A demonstration video accompanying one advertisement displays a seller firing a 30-round magazine on full automatic, underscoring the brazenness of the trade.

These ads are visible to millions of users, raising significant concerns about the platform’s role in facilitating the proliferation of weapons in a war-torn country. According to experts, it is unlikely that such operations are conducted without the implicit support or acquiescence of the Houthis.

Expert Reactions

Edmund Fitton-Brown, the former British Ambassador to Yemen and now a representative for the Counter Extremism Project, commented on the situation, stating, “It is inconceivable that they [the weapons dealers] are not operating on the Houthis’ behalf.

Purely private dealers who tried to profit from supplying, [for example] the government of Yemen, would be quickly shut down.”

This sentiment reflects the broader concern that the Houthis, a tribal minority that seized power in Yemen in 2014, are benefitting from the lax enforcement of platform policies. The Houthis’ grip on Yemen, marked by a seven-year military campaign led by Saudi Arabia to oust them, has only deepened as the country has descended into a protracted civil war.

Broader Implications

The Houthis’ access to a wide array of weaponry, including drones and missiles supplied by Iran, has had dire consequences for regional stability.

In late 2023, the Houthis expanded their targeting to commercial and naval shipping in the Red Sea, citing support for Palestinians in Gaza. However, many of the vessels attacked had no connection to Israel, demonstrating a broader destabilizing impact on maritime trade.

Efforts to curb these attacks have proven insufficient. A US-led maritime force deployed offshore has struggled to prevent the disruptions caused by the Houthis, which have significantly impacted trade routes, including those passing through Egypt’s Suez Canal.

Calls for Action

The situation has prompted calls for increased action from tech platforms to combat the proliferation of extremist content. UK-based NGO Tech Against Terrorism has issued an urgent plea for social media companies to actively remove content supporting the Houthis and similar groups.

The organization’s call highlights the need for more robust content moderation and enforcement of policies to prevent the misuse of platforms for illegal activities.

As the conflict in Yemen continues and the arms trade thrives on social media, the role of platforms like X in regulating and monitoring content becomes increasingly critical.

The ongoing exposure of these illicit transactions underscores a significant gap in the oversight of online marketplaces, with serious implications for global security and stability.

Conclusion

The sale of weapons on X underscores a troubling trend in the intersection of social media and conflict.

With Yemeni arms dealers openly conducting their business on a platform designed for general communication, the international community faces a pressing need to address the regulatory and enforcement challenges posed by such developments.

As the conflict in Yemen persists and the Houthis continue to wield their influence, the global response to these issues will likely play a pivotal role in shaping the future of both regional stability and social media governance.