US-based social media platform X has suspended the account of Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthis, which had 121,500 followers.
Users attempting to access his account were met with the message: “Account suspended. X suspends accounts that violate the X Rules.”
Used to announce attacks
Yahya Saree had been using the account to announce Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, as well as military operations targeting Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni army. The account was known as one of the Houthis’ main communication channels for making military announcements to the public.
Houthis maintain control of Sana’a
The Houthis have maintained control of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, as well as several cities and provinces in the country since September 2014.
Although clashes have occasionally occurred between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis, the country had experienced a relatively calm period since the nationwide ceasefire reached in April 2022.
Red Sea tensions back in the spotlight
On July 13, an airstrike was carried out on the runway of an airport in Sana’a, which is controlled by the Houthis, in an attempt to prevent an aircraft arriving from Iran from landing.
The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack and subsequently launched an attack on Abha Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. They also announced that they had closed the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab to Saudi vessels.