Yemen Snipers Train Using Iran, Houthi Leader Images

A video circulating widely on social media shows Yemeni military forces conducting long-range sniper training in desert conditions, with an unusual choice of targets drawing international attention. The sharpshooters are practicing precision shooting at distances up to 1,600 meters, but instead of standard training targets, they're aiming at portraits of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior figures in the Houthi rebel movement.

The footage, which has gained significant traction online, depicts camouflaged snipers positioned behind sandbags and netting in harsh desert terrain. Accompanying the video is a message declaring they are "crushing them without mercy," referring to the Houthi militants who control Yemen's capital and large portions of the country. The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are an Iran-backed armed movement that has been fighting Yemen's internationally recognized government since 2014.

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The training exercise showcases advanced military capabilities, with targets positioned at ranges extending to 1,600 meters. Some portraits are affixed to clay pots suspended in the air, while others hang from specialized mounting systems. The video also reveals drones hovering above the training area, apparently providing intelligence gathering and tactical support during the exercises.

Beyond demonstrating military proficiency, the video carries a clear psychological message directed at Iran and its proxies. Social media users responded enthusiastically, with one commenter stating: "The Houthis have no chance of survival." Others joked about the cardboard targets while expressing hope for a future operation to liberate Sanaa, Yemen's capital, which has been under Houthi control for nearly a decade. The choice of targets, featuring not only Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi but also Iran's Khamenei, underscores the Yemeni government forces' view of the conflict as part of a broader struggle against Iranian regional influence.