Misleading Videos Claim Showing Houthi Attack on USS Abraham Lincoln
The Claim
News posted on
Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating videos claiming to show the aftermath of the Houthi attack on the American aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
Misbar's team found that the video, from 2020, depicts a fire that broke out on the USS Bonhomme Richard while it was docked at Naval Base San Diego.
The video in question was sourced from two YouTube uploads by the U.S. Navy, dated July 13, 2020, and titled "USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Firefighting Efforts, July 13th."
The second segment of the claiming video was taken from the third part uploaded by the U.S. Navy showing firefighting efforts on extinguishing the fire.
According to a report by Reuters, the USS Bonhomme Richard, which is the second largest vessel in the U.S. Navy fleet after an aircraft carrier, suffered extensive damage, resulting in it listing to the starboard side with its superstructure collapsed and melted. At the time of the incident, the ship was undergoing repairs, and only about 160 crew members were present, as most major munitions had been removed from the ship as a standard safety precaution.
A U.S. Navy sailor has been charged with igniting a fire last year that burned for four days on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, injuring over 60 individuals and leading to the destruction of the vessel. The sailor, whose identity has not been disclosed, faces charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and may be subject to court-martial, as stated by Navy Commander Sean Robertson, a spokesperson for the U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Houthi Forces Target U.S. Destroyers with Drones and Missiles in Bab el-Mandeb
The circulation of the claim came after the news that Houthi forces launched an attack on two American destroyers using drones and missiles as the vessels navigated the Bab el-Mandeb Strait while entering the Gulf of Aden on Monday, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.
The Houthis fired at least eight one-way uncrewed aerial systems, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and three anti-ship cruise missiles at the USS Spruance (DDG-111) and USS Stockdale (DDG-106), which successfully engaged all incoming projectiles, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder informed reporters on Tuesday. U.S. Central Command has yet to release a statement regarding the incident.
There were no injuries or damage reported for either destroyer. This marks the second occasion that these independently deployed destroyers have faced Houthi fire; they were previously attacked in late September, alongside the USS Indianapolis (LCS-17).
Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Sare’e claimed on social media platform X that the recent attack on the destroyers was successful and also mentioned an assault on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in the Arabian Sea. However, Ryder stated that he was unaware of any attacks on the aircraft carrier.
Read More
Yemen’s Houthis Are Not Ceasing Operations in International Water After Trump’s Victory
