The Video Of A Burning Tanker in the Red Sea Is Not Recent
The Claim
A video shows a Norwegian-flagged ablaze off the coast of Yemen while passing through Bab al-Mandeb following a suspected Houthi missile attack
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Emerging story
A recently shared video allegedly shows a Norwegian-flagged ablaze off the coast of Yemen while passing through Bab al-Mandeb following a suspected Houthi missile attack.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
The Video Predates the Gaza War
Misbar's team found that the viral video dates back to 2016 and shows a Houthi attack on an Emirati ship.
The Houthi group had claimed that the video showed them bombing a military ship that was heading towards the port of Mocha on the Red Sea. However, the Arab Coalition forces command, which is led by Saudi Arabia, announced that the ship was civilian and named "Swift." The ship was owned by the UAE Marine Dredging Company and did not have any military status.
Civilian Catamaran Attacked in Bab al-Mandab: International Condemnation as Houthis Claim Military Target
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) accused Houthi rebels in Yemen of attacking a civilian ship carrying aid in the Red Sea. The high-speed catamaran, identified as an Australian-built HSV-2 Swift logistics catamaran, was passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait, a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, when it came under fire. The UAE foreign ministry condemned the incident as "an act of terrorism," highlighting that the ship was leased from a civilian company and had "no military capacity."
The attack, which reportedly injured both Yemeni and international passengers on board, has drawn sharp condemnation from the international community. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for a "thorough and transparent investigation" into the incident, while the European Union urged all parties to "exercise restraint and prioritize the protection of civilians."
The Houthis, however, claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that they targeted a UAE military vessel approaching the Red Sea port of Mocha. This claim contradicts the UAE's assertion that the targeted ship was solely for civilian purposes.
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