Claim:
Following the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense agreement on September 18, a video began circulating on social media, shared by multiple Indian users, claiming that a Houthi operative threatened Pakistan after the deployment of its troops to the Saudi-Yemen border. The viral posts suggested that Pakistan had sent 25,000 troops to the border, prompting a severe warning from the Houthi group.
One prominent propaganda account paired the video with an image of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, captioning:
“Breaking: Pakistan has deployed 25,000 troops to the Saudi-Yemen border under the new defense agreement. In response, Houthi fighters have issued a grave warning to turn the Saudi-Yemen border into a graveyard for Pakistani troops.”
The post was viewed over 359,000 times on X, and similar shares appeared on multiple other accounts.
Fact Check Findings:
1. No Credible Media Reporting:
A thorough review of international, Saudi, Yemeni, and Pakistani media sources found no credible report confirming that Pakistan deployed troops to the Saudi-Yemen border or that the Houthis issued threats against Pakistan.
2. Video Analysis:
The viral video was examined using AI-based transcription tools. The analysis revealed that the speaker made no mention of Pakistan. Instead, the video focuses on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The key statements from the Houthi spokesperson include:
“Gaza is a red line for us. Our objectives, our sacred places, and our religion are red lines, and we will not compromise on them.”
“If the enemy continues aggression against Gaza, we will target objectives the enemy could never imagine, actions beyond what even the Yemeni people or the Muslim Ummah could envision.”
3. Reverse Image and Video Search:
Reverse image searches traced the video to Lebanese news channel Al-Mayadeen, which uploaded the original clip on YouTube on May 14, 2024.
Comparisons confirmed that the viral clip is identical to the original, including background elements, hand gestures, and facial expressions of the speaker.
4. Original Context:
The Houthi spokesperson in the video is Brigadier General Yahya Saree, addressing Israel’s actions in Gaza, not Pakistan. Further verification from Iranian news outlet Press TV (May 14, 2024) corroborated this context, reporting that Yahya Saree warned of targeting adversaries who threaten Gaza, emphasizing that these actions would be unprecedented.
5. Conclusion:
The viral claim that the Houthi operative threatened Pakistan following the Pakistan-Saudi defense agreement is false and misleading. The video predates the agreement and pertains entirely to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Pakistan is not mentioned in the original footage, and no Pakistani troop deployment or Houthi threats were reported by credible sources.
Verdict: ❌ Misleading/False
The viral video is old footage from May 2024 related to Israel-Gaza tensions. The claim linking it to Pakistan is fabricated.
Recommendation:
Social media users are advised to verify the original source and date of videos before sharing, especially regarding sensitive defense and geopolitical matters.
