A massive portion of Tik Tokers have a new crush, turns out it’s the Yemen Army. Yemeni soldiers are making moves of the kicking butt and taking names variety.
ICYMI: Here’s the low down on Yemen
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking vessels passing through the Red Sea in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The attacks, which have targeted commercial shipping with drones and missiles, are aimed at Israel-linked ships and are in support of Palestinians under siege by Israel in Gaza.
WATCH: Yemen rebels at work
What was unexpected was the reactions from social media, particularly on short video app, TikTok.
Many social media users appear awestruck that the poorest Arab nation in the world is taking the boldest stance on the ongoing war in Gaza, in which 20 000 Palestinian civilians have been killed since 7 October.
World leaders from British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak, to USA’s Joe Biden have shied away from condemning Israel’s military operations in densely populated civilian areas, opting for softer language such as “humanitarian pauses” and “temporary ceasefires”.
But Yemen’s ballsy approach and military response to Israel has been hailed as the “humanitarian push” needed to end the violence.
WATCH: ‘Yemen, Yemen make us proud’
Hashtags such as #YemenTriumph and #GalaxyLeaderCapture have been trending, with users commending the Yemeni troops for their strategic prowess. Memes, videos, and supportive messages flooded social media timelines, creating a virtual celebration of the perceived victory.
Video’s showing Yemen fighter pilots getting ready to take on cargo ships edited to the sound track of US Blockbuster hit Top Gun elicited hysterical reactions from netizens.
Watch on TikTok
Houthi militants from Yemen captured the Nippon Yusen-operated cargo ship, Galaxy Leader, in the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels, who have been actively involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, declared all Israeli vessels “legitimate targets.” but the way they went about it has the internet losing its mind.
The Galaxy Leader, with 25 crew members on board, were taken hostage by the Houthi rebels. NYK Line, the ship’s Japanese operator, confirmed the vessel had no cargo at the time of the hijacking, dispelling concerns of potential hazardous materials.
While opinions on the geopolitical implications of the event vary, the online discourse largely centers around the perceived resilience of Yemeni forces in the face of regional conflicts.
Some users are hailing the operation as a symbolic gesture against perceived oppression, while others engage in more nuanced discussions about the complexities of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Tik Toks depicting both triumphant and peaceful scenes aboard the ship have gone viral. Yemeni forces can be seen doing traditional Arabic dances and even smoking shisha.
