Saudi bombing in Yemen sparks Twitter storm

Saudi bombing in Yemen sparks Twitter storm
Blog: Saudi Arabia has 2.4 million active Twitter users, and many have taken to social media to voice their support for the country's military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
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The New Arab Staff

Al-Araby al-Jadeed

26 Mar, 2015
Saudi Arabia has 2.4 million active Twitter users, the highest in the Arab region [AFP]
An hour after the Saudi ambassador to Washington announced that Saudi Arabia had begun Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis, a Twitter storm was raging.

From late last night, the hashtag #Asifat_al-Hazm' ["Decisive Storm"] has been trending on Twitter. News and videos of the situation in Yemen have also been spead across social media.

Supporters and opponents of the campaign used hashtags to show their stance including #Alharb_ala_al-Houthioun ["War on Houthis"], #Maarakat_rada_al-Houthi ["Battle to deter the Houthis"], and #Rada_al-Houthi ["Deter the Houthis"].

"Why today, after the Houthis had already controlled Aden?" one Twitter user questioned. "Why not seven months ago when they took over Sanaa?"

Saudi social media users were the most active, many showing their support for King Salman bin Abdulaziz's decision to go into battle.

Other users tweeted news briefs on violations committed by Houthis in Yemen since September, including a clampdown on the freedom of the press.

Here are a collection of some of the most popular tweets in Saudi Arabia:


Khalid al-Saud:

"#Decisive_Storm A night where Saudis are up late to tell the world via social media: We are behind our leadership in whatever they want to do to protect our nation."


Sultan al-Harbi:

"News that is almost certain that the Saudi air force has bombed the house of the Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, to the dust bin of history - #Decisive_Storm.


Sultan al-Jameeri:

"#Decisive_Storm - If this war continues at its current pace, the Houthis will be completely isolated and will make Iranian intervention much more difficult."

Saud:

"Stand firm [Saudi Arabia], we will be your protection and we promise to you that we will deliver. A homeland that you do not protect you do not deserve to live in."

 

Tawakkol Karman

"I'm against the Persian occupation of our nation. I am against the coup made by the deposed, and the Houthis - no matter how brutal the occupation is or the barbarity of the coup."


Abdel Rahman al-Sakran -

"The decision of military intervention to restore and protect the legitimate authority and the Yemeni people, is a wise and brave decision and the honourable - #Decisive_Storm."

Waleed al-Farraj:

"King Salman gives the order to start #Decisive_Storm. Our eagles took control of the skies [in Yemen] within 270 minutes. Greetings to our air force."



This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.

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