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Yemen weapons dealers selling machine guns on X (www.bbc.com)

submitted 2 months ago by lemmee_in@lemm.ee to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

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Weapons dealers in Yemen are openly using the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to sell Kalashnikovs, pistols, grenades and grenade-launchers.

The traders operate in the capital Sana’a and other areas under control of the Houthis, a rebel group backed by Iran and proscribed as terrorists by the US and Australian governments.

The advertisements are mostly in Arabic and aimed primarily at Yemeni customers in a country where the number of guns is often said to outnumber the population by three to one.

The BBC has found several examples online, offering weapons at prices in both Yemeni and Saudi riyals.

The words beside the weapons are designed to lure in the buyers.

"Premium craftsmanship and top-notch warranty," says one advertisement. "The Yemeni-modified AK is your best choice."

A demonstration video, filmed at night, shows the seller blasting off a 30-round magazine on full automatic.

Another offers sand-coloured Pakistani-produced Glock pistols for around $900 each.

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[–] SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca -2 points 2 months ago (13 children)

Are we pretending the Houthis are innocents now?

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (12 children)

No, we're acknowledging that countries wrecked by civil war and intermittent famines going back a decade, aren't known for their ability to police domestic issues fairly, on time, or even at all. I'd be more interested to know what percent of the households are NOT armed.

For the record, I said nothing about any government, or political groups/militias. They're armed primarily by their proxy sponsor, I'm talking about retail arms sale to civilians, bandits, normies, and scared parents alike.

Unless you think IRCG is arming the Houthis via Twitter.

[–] sp3tr4l@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

You are also aware that the Houthis have been and still are indiscriminately targeting civilian cargo ships of any nationality, yes?

Its not like all of these ships are going to or from Israel, or registered as Israeli or US vessels.

Its actually quite an oddity to see NATO, Indian Navy and PLAN vessels all doing anti-piracy missions in the same place and time.

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

I'm going to need you to actually quote which part of my comment you're responding to.

As far as I can tell, what you wrote has exactly nothing to do with anything that I said.

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