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LONDON: Arms dealers linked to Yemen’s Houthi militia have been using social media platforms such as X and WhatsApp to sell weapons, according to a new report.

The Tech Transparency Project, or TTP, identified hundreds of accounts openly dealing in rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and other military-grade equipment, in apparent violation of the platforms’ policies.

“X and WhatsApp are providing an essential platform to Houthi-linked arms dealers selling weapons of war,” the report read. “The companies have policies in place that prohibit that kind of illicit trade but are allowing it to take place in the open.”

TTP called the activity “a threat to US national security interests,” noting the Iran-backed group is designated as a terrorist organization.

The months-long investigation by the Washington-based watchdog, which monitors accountability in Big Tech, found that Houthi-affiliated arms dealers had been running commercial weapons stores on both platforms for months, and in some cases, years.

This account offered a Soviet rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a collection of Turkish-made M4 carbine clones. (TTP/File)

One account posted multiple offers of AK-47s. (TTP/File)

Some of the arms trader accounts had a “professional category” listed in their X profiles. (TTP/File)

This account posted a photo of Soviet rocket-propelled grenade launcher and said it was available for 7,000 Saudi riyals (about $1,800). (TTP/File)

Researchers identified at least 130 Yemen-based X accounts and 67 WhatsApp business accounts advertising military-grade equipment or promoting catalogues of guns for sale. These included US-manufactured weapons — some marked “Property of US Govt” — and other Western arms labeled with “NATO.”

In one instance, a seller listed four M4 carbines — an assault rifle used by the US military and manufactured by FN Herstal and Colt — and directed buyers to WhatsApp. Another account offered a package deal that included a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles and grenades.

Russian weapons, including RPG-7 launchers and AK-47s, also featured prominently. A Soviet RPG-7 was offered for about $1,800, while another account advertised a “zero mileage” Russian AK-47.

Prices for some weapons reportedly reached $10,000, suggesting sales may be intended for other armed groups or insurgents.

Many of the accounts displayed allegiance to the Houthi, including photos of weapons in crates marked with Houthi slogans such as “Death to America, death to Israel.”

The emblem states “God is great, Death to America, death to Israel, damnation to the Jews, victory to Islam.” (TTP/File)

This Yemen-based account posted about an M4 carbine for sale with a ballistic helmet, night-vision goggles, and other accessories for $10,000. It was also marked “PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVT.” (TTP/File)

This account offered an M6 rifle stamped with “LWRC International” and “5.56mm NATO.This account offered an M6 rifle stamped with “LWRC International” and “5.56mm NATO.” (TTP/File)

More than half of the X accounts listed Sanaa — under Houthi control for more than a decade — as their location. Many accounts funneled buyers to WhatsApp business profiles, some of which openly displayed catalogs of rifles and ammunition. A number of these were also linked to Facebook and Instagram accounts, raising further concerns over Meta’s enforcement of its firearms policies.

Meta, which owns WhatsApp, says it reviews all images submitted to product catalogs, yet researchers found little evidence of enforcement. The company said it had since removed several accounts and claimed it does not profit from this type of activity but declined to answer how the content had bypassed existing filters.

“X and WhatsApp both have policies against weapons sales but they are allowing arms traders linked to a US-designated terrorist group to traffic weapons on their platforms,” said Katie Paul, the director of TTP.

“In some cases these companies may be profiting off violations of their own policies that create risks for US national security.”

This arms trader X account linked to a WhatsApp business account with a catalog of guns and a banner photo of Mahdi al-Mashat, a top Houthi official, firing a rifle. (TTP/File)

This arms trader X account linked to a WhatsApp business account that called itself a store “for all types of weapons.” (TTP/File)

This WhatsApp business account listed four sniper rifles with scopes, with text saying “the heavy caliber has arrived.” (TTP/File)

TTP’s findings, which build on a similar August 2024 investigation by The Times, suggest most of the Houthi-linked arms dealer accounts were created or became active following mass layoffs at X and Meta that weakened enforcement capabilities. Many handles had blue ticks and were subscribed to premium services that are supposed to be moderated.

Roughly two-thirds of the accounts appear to have posted weapons content in the past six months.

“Both Meta and X have the capital, the tools and the human resources to address this problem, but they’re not doing so,” Paul said.

LONDON: Two Palestinian journalists were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes on Sunday, in the latest deadly escalation targeting media workers in the Gaza Strip, according to local sources.

Fadi Khalifa was killed along with at least one other person while inspecting the remains of his home in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood of southeastern Gaza City, multiple sources reported.

In a separate strike, photojournalist Hussam Saleh Al-Adlouni was killed alongside his wife Suad and their three children when an Israeli airstrike hit their tent in the Al-Qarara area, north of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.

According to WAFA news agency, the family had been sheltering there after being displaced.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the killings, saying they added to Israel’s “abysmal record” of violence against members of the press.

Their deaths bring the number of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, to 231, according to official figures.

The Committee to Protect Journalists puts the toll at 178: 176 Palestinians and two Israelis.

Medical sources reported that at least 92 civilians were killed across Gaza on Sunday alone, including 52 in central and southern areas of the Strip.