Houthi social media sensation compared to Hollywood stars calls on UK and US to ‘stop this war’
A teenager behind videos filmed onboard a ship being held by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has called on the UK and US to “stop this war”.
Rashid al Haddad’s social media videos include him being seen on the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, which was hijacked by the Houthi militant group last November.
The 19-year-old Yemeni has been dubbed ‘Tim Houthi Chalamet’ and the ‘hot Houthi pirate’ on the internet for his videos in the Red Sea.
Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi fighters – officially known as “Supporters of God” or “Ansar Allah” in Arabic – have been made against Israel and on commercial ships.
The Iranian-backed group has defied repeated warnings to stop targeting ships in the Red Sea – but the rebels say vessels heading to and from Israel are legitimate targets.
US and British forces have launched strikes in the area and have shot down drones launched by Houthis against their vessels.
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Yemeni protesters show support for Palestinians
But Rashid told Sky News he had been posting videos about his experiences to show “solidarity with Palestine”.
Through translation, he added: “My message is that they stop this war, and they reassess the situation in Palestine.
“There are children starving, thirsty, dying under bombardment (in Gaza)… like a two-year-old child dying from bombardment.
“Why? Because of the actions of the Zionists?
“Yemen stood with Palestine, and was being bombarded for this solidarity, but this hasn’t affected us and we will continue to stand by Palestine.”
Read more:
Who are the Houthis – and how did the group form?
The West is embroiled in widening Middle East conflict
Rashid al Haddad spoke to Sky News about the motivation behind his videos
He said he considers himself a “media personality” – but his main mission is to “spread awareness” about Palestine.
Rashid had to keep setting up new accounts after previous ones on Facebook “would get shut down”.
“All of the Yemeni people are with Ansar Allah and with Palestine, even if I appear with arms, all Yemenis carry arms – it’s normal,” he added.
Most of the international community believes the only long-term outcome for regional stability is a two-state solution – a scenario rejected by Israel which wants “control over all the territory west of the Jordan”.
The latest unrest in the region began when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October last year – killing more than 1,000 Israelis and taking hundreds hostage. Israel has killed more than 25,000 people in Gaza since its response began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there.
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
Read more:
Who is in Trump’s top team?
Trump’s cabinet signals tough stance on China
Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
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