U.S. Aircraft Carrier Did Not Hoist Yemeni Flag During Red Sea Passage
The Claim
U.S. Aircraft Carrier Hoisted the Yemeni Flag During Red Sea Passage.
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Users on social media platforms have been circulating a video clip, claiming that it shows an American aircraft carrier hoisting the Yemeni flag while passing through the Red Sea recently.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
This Is Not The Yemeni Flag
Misbar's team found that the flag on the American aircraft carrier does not display the Yemeni flag, as the Yemeni flag consists of red, white, and black colors in that order.
Upon further investigation, we found that the official accounts of the U.S. Navy have been sharing pictures over the past years of American naval ships and aircraft carrying the same flag. It is likely that the flag, which bears the colors of the American flag (blue, white, and red), is hoisted when the ship or aircraft carrier is on a mission or during its departure.
The video was posted onJanuary 8, showing the arrival of the American aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson at the port of the Philippine capital, Manila.
Iranian and Hezbollah Commanders Aid Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping
According to four regional sources and two Iranian sources, commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are present in Yemen, actively involved in guiding and supervising Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Iran, known for supplying arms, training, and funding to the Houthis, has reportedly increased its weapons shipments to the militia following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. This escalation occurred after Iranian-backed militants from Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7. The sources indicate that Tehran has provided the Houthis with advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles, and medium-range missiles. Starting in November, the Houthis began targeting commercial vessels as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The sources also reveal that IRGC commanders and advisors are offering expertise, data, and intelligence support to identify which ships passing through the Red Sea are headed to Israel and thus constitute Houthi targets.
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