Hezbollah chief ridicules Seychelles in viral video |08 January 2024
A video of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah ridiculing the US-led multinational navy coalition in the Red Sea has gone viral over the weekend, propelling Seychelles into the global spotlight.
Mocking the Red Sea task force in a video address, Nasrallah humorously referred to Seychelles as “‘Senshel’, ‘Menshel’, whatever its name is,” laughingly stating that he had to Google the location of the island state.
The coalition, dubbed ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’, aims to safeguard commercial traffic from Yemen’s Houthi movement.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the formation and launch of the coalition on December 18, 2023. Seychelles authorities quickly clarified that the nation’s role in the task force primarily focuses on information-sharing, with no deployment of physical assets.
Despite this clarification, Seychelles has become a subject of global scrutiny, particularly among social media users worldwide.
Local social media enthusiasts have also eagerly seized the opportunity to voice their opinions, actively participating in prominent Facebook communities like 'Seychelles Daily.' In these online discussions, users are urging the government to reconsider Seychelles' involvement in the coalition, expressing concerns that it may make the country susceptible to becoming a target.
The momentum generated by the viral video has provided an ideal platform for advocates of the online petition urging the government to reconsider Seychelles' participation. This surge in attention has spurred efforts to gather additional signatures for the cause. By yesterday afternoon, the petition had accumulated slightly over 325 signatures, nearing its goal of 500 signatures.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, could not be reached for any comments.
The coalition also includes the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.
The Operation Prosperity Guardian is solely defensive in nature and separate from any military action the US might take if the Houthi attacks continue.
Yemen's Houthi rebels recently intensified their attacks on ships in the Red Sea as an act of retaliation against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
These strikes have led major shipping and oil companies to halt transit through the important global trade route, raising concerns about potential repercussions on the global economy.
Believed to be trained and backed by Iran, there are growing fears that these attacks could lead to the escalation of Israel's conflict with Hamas, into a broader regional crisis.
Laura Pillay