This Video Does Not Show a U.S. Ship Hit by Missile
The Claim
A video shows a U.S. Ship Hit by Missile.
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Social media users widely circulated a video clip purporting to feature a U.S-owned cargo ship that has been struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen. In the footage, a large cargo ship is seen engulfed in flames.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
The Video Predates The Recent Yemen Attacks
Misbar's team found that the video dates back to May, 2021 and captures a burning container ship off the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
On May 25,2021, an explosion occurred on a container ship near the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This incident took place a few days after a fire had already broken out on the vessel. The container ship, named X Press Pearl and flying the Singapore flag, was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid.
The Sri Lanka Air Force released a video showing thick black smoke billowing from the ship. The fire initially started on Thursday, May 20, and the situation worsened on May 25. According to reports from Singapore's Daily Mirror, all 25 crew members were safely evacuated, although two of them were hospitalized due to injuries. The explosion resulted in several containers being thrown into the sea.
U.S-Owned Cargo Ship Hit by Houthi Missile in Red Sea
These claims spread after it has been confirmed that a U.S-owned and operated cargo ship, the Gibraltar Eagle, was targeted by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on Monday, in a statement issued by U.S. Central Command. This incident marked the first successful Houthi strike on a U.S-owned or operated vessel, intensifying the situation in the Red Sea following the American warning of a response to further Houthi launches.
The attack comes shortly after a U.S-led coalition executed strikes against the Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen. The coalition not only carried out these strikes but also cautioned that additional strikes could be forthcoming if the Houthi attacks persist.
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