No stranger to publicity or controversy, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has stepped into yet another storm with an offer of 100 Bentleys for the Saudi pilots who carried out the Yemen raids over the past weeks, in a tweet that the billionaire businessman has since deleted.
“I congratulate our wise leaders on the victory of Operation Decisive Storm and the beginning of Operation Restoring Hope,” Alwaleed appeared to tweet Tuesday, according to the International Business Times . “To recognize the one hundred participating Saudi pilots I am pleased to present them with 100 Bentley cars."
The offer came as Saudi Arabia and its coalition of partners announced an end to the bombing campaign against Houthi rebels and the beginning of a new phase, Operation Restoring Hope. While the new campaign has a much more optimistic name than the bombing phase (“Operation Decisive Storm”), it’s not clear what “Restoring Hope” will entail . Maybe less bombing? That would probably be restorative, at least to Yemeni citizens.
On Twitter, reactions to the Bentley offer were … varied. For some, the idea of luxury cars being passed out was perfectly normal, admirable in fact.
"Look at this honorable man. I swear he's a hero, and it's heroes like you who are worth it."
"It wouldn't hurt Alwaleed bin Talal if he gave me a million, would it? You would go to heaven just for the amount of happiness that would give me. He who makes another 'abd, follower, human' happy, God Makes him happy in return, good man!”
But for those living in countries where luxury cars aren’t a dime a dozen – the generous offer sparked a touch of envy.
“Alwaleed bin Talal, why don't you help out your brother Sisi and his pilots, even if with a bunch of carts. Have some mercy, we're Arabs,too."
"Sisi has Alwaleed bin Talal saved on his mobile phone as "Walid Rice,” referencing a controversy between Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al Sisi and the Gulf from earlier this year .
While the flashy offer is what drew attention, Yemenis were less impressed, understandably.
Since deleting the tweet, Alwaleed hasn’t addressed the issue or said if his offer still stands. However, several people reported on social media that he deleted the tweet at the request of the Saudi government, as such a payment to military officers would violate the law.