Not just drones and missiles, Houthis are rattling Saudi Arabia with a different 'weapon'
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The Houthi rebels in Yemen are using social media as a weapon against the Saudi-led coalition, not just missiles or drone strikes. And the name of notorious American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has emerged at the center of this.
The Houthis are disseminating some information from documents released by the US Department of Justice (the Epstein files). Among these is information that individuals connected to the Saudi royal family sent the kiswa used at the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, to Epstein's private island. The Houthis are using this to damage Saudi Arabia's image.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels control a large part of Yemen. Their propaganda efforts include the use of various materials about their adversary Saudi Arabia and its allies — songs, videos, speeches, statements, and posts by social media influencers. The Houthis have intensified this activity since Yemen's civil war flared up anew.
The group is fighting against Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government forces backed by it. The group is trying to portray itself as the defender of Islam against corrupt foreign influence.
Last month, Saudi Arabia alleged that the Houthis carried out a drone attack on Mecca, Islam's holy city. Saudi authorities described it as a "shameful" act aimed at provoking Muslims. However, the Houthis denied the allegation.
They did not stop at merely denying the allegation. They accused Saudi Arabia itself of betraying religious faith. Using their extensive communication network, they brought forward reports of the kiswa of the Kaaba being sent to Epstein.
Houthi President Mahdi al-Mashat said in a statement, "Those who gave the kiswa of the Kaaba to Epstein are the ones targeting Mecca."
However, there has been no response from Saudi Arabia regarding the allegation of sending the kiswa of the Kaaba to Epstein.
Mustafa Ayad, a researcher at the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue, says the Houthis are presenting their fight against Saudi Arabia as part of a broader Iran-backed war against the United States and the "Epstein class." They are propagating that Saudi leaders are also part of this class.
US weapons and military support have been extremely important in the bloody bombing campaign Saudi Arabia has carried out against the Houthis for years. (Source: NDTV)
