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:
— د. خــالـد آل سـعـود (@dr_khalidalsaud) March 26, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post |
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."
— سلطان الحربي (@A22zzz) March 26, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post |
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.
— سلطان الجميري (@SultanAljumeri) March 26, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post |
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."
— ســـعــــود (@SAUD___999) March 26, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post |
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."
— توكل كرمان (@TawakkolKarman) March 25, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post |
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."
قرار التدخل عسكرياً لإعادة وحماية السلطة الشرعية والشعب اليمني قرار حكيم وشجاع من كل الشرفاء لردع قوى الظلام للسيطرة على اليمن #عاصفة_الحزم — عبدالرحمن السكران (@alsakran_ab) March 26, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post "> |
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."
— وليد_الفراج# (@waleedalfarraj) March 26, 2015" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post |
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.