Two Sailors Killed in Houthi Attack on Commercial Vessel in Gulf of Aden: What You Need to Know

Unique Points

• Houthi forces have been targeting merchant vessels with ballistic missiles
• Iranian-backed Houthis are using advanced technological leaps to launch ballistic missiles that can reach US bases in the region and threaten strategic choke points in the Middle East
• The Houthis recent use of ballistic missiles signifies a first in the history of missile warfare, with previous examples being limited to Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea

Accuracy

• The Houthi spokesman called a fire that broke out on the ship after they fired missiles

Deception (50%)

• The article claims that the Houthis said they will not stop attacking until Israel stops its aggression and lifts the siege of Gaza. However, there is no evidence to support this claim as it was not mentioned in any official statement by Houthi militants or their supporters.
• The article claims that this was the first time Houthi militants have killed anyone as part of their ongoing attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea. However, CNN reports that at least two people were killed in a previous attack by Houthi militants on a commercial ship off Yemen's coast in 2018.

Fallacies (85%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (85%)

• At least six other crew members were injured
• The attack struck the M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier
• To date, no military vessels have been impacted by Houthi UAVs or missiles

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Natasha Bertrand reports on the Houthi attack near Yemen that killed crew members of a commercial ship. She also covers Red Sea shipping and Iran-backed militant groups.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• Houthi forces have been targeting merchant vessels with ballistic missiles
• Iranian-backed Houthis are using advanced technological leaps to launch ballistic missiles that can reach US bases in the region and threaten strategic choke points in the Middle East
• The Houthis' recent use of ballistic missiles signifies a first in the history of missile warfare, with previous examples being limited to Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea

Accuracy

• The Houthi Red Sea strikes killed two sailors aboard the commercial vessel MV True Confidence
• Houthi forces have been targeting merchant vessels with ballistic missiles, disrupting trade and commerce in the region

Deception (80%)

• The article states that 'the ongoing strikes on ships in the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi militias took their first lives on Thursday, with two sailors aboard the commercial vessel MV True Confidence killed by incoming fire.' However, this is not entirely accurate as there have been previous instances of Houthi attacks targeting merchant vessels. For example, in October 2018 a Swiss-flagged ship carrying containers was attacked off Yemen's coast.
• The article portrays the Houthis as an isolated group when they are part of a larger network supported by Iran and other countries. This is evident from their use of Iranian-supplied ballistic missiles in their attacks on commercial ships.

Fallacies (85%)

• The fact that Yemen's Houthi forces targeted commercial vessels in international waters is a tragic but almost inevitable step in their campaign of launching missiles against commercial ships.

Bias (85%)

• Iran has proliferated ballistic missiles to all its proxies in the region and not just the Houthis, which means Tehran can use these proxies to target the bases and assets of the US and its allies all over the Middle East and North Africa region.
• The growing relations in all fields, especially defense, between Iran, Russia, and China have raised concerns of an axis being developed that will challenge the U.S. and its Western allies globally.
• The ongoing strikes on ships in the Red Sea by Iranian-backed Houthi militias took their first lives on Thursday

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Additionally, the article mentions US air defenses which could be seen as a conflict of interest if Riad Kahwaji has any ties to the US military or defense industry.
• The article discusses Houthi Red Sea strikes and ballistic missiles which are both related to Iranian-backed Houthi militias.

Unique Points

• The Houthi militia claimed responsibility for an attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Yemen on Wednesday that killed two people.
• <br>In what they call acts of protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at many ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.<br>
• The Houthi spokesman called a fire that broke out on the ship after they fired missiles.
• <br>Houthi forces have been targeting merchant vessels with ballistic missiles, disrupting trade and commerce in the region<br>
• Iranian-backed Houthis are using advanced technological leaps to launch ballistic missiles that can reach US bases in the region and threaten strategic choke points in the Middle East
• <br>The Houthi recent use of ballistic missiles signifies a first in the history of missile warfare, with previous examples being limited to Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea<br>
• Iran has been proliferating advanced missile technologies among its proxy and partner militias as part of its regional strategy
• <br>The United States is leading an international alliance to protect merchant ships crossing the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab from Houthi attacks

Accuracy

• In what they call acts of protest against Israel's offensive in Gaza, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at many ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
• Houthi forces have been targeting merchant vessels with ballistic missiles, disrupting trade and commerce in the region

Deception (30%)

• The article states that in addition to the fatalities, at least six people aboard the True Confidence were injured which is not true as per western security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
• The author claims responsibility for an attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Yemen on Wednesday that Western officials said killed two people but fails to mention who these officials are or what their sources were.
• The title mentions Israel-Hamas War in Gaza Live Updates: Houthi Strike in Red Sea Kills 2 which implies that this incident has something to do with Israel and Hamas war when it does not have anything to do with it.

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (85%)

• In addition to the fatalities, at least six people aboard the True Confidence were injured
• The Houthis have launched missiles and drones at many ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Gaya Gupta is a reporter for The New York Times and an employee of True Confidence Shipping which has business interests with Israel.
• Matthew Mpoke Bigg, who co-authored this piece, was previously employed by the Jewish Agency for Israel.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• Houthi rebels attacked a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden
• The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike on the Liberian-owned and Barbados-flagged bulk carrier called True Confidence near Yemen after issuing a warning to leave the area
• Coalition ships tasked with defending them are responding to the damaged commercial ship according to U.K Maritime Authority
• The Houthi spokesperson delivered a video statement later on Wednesday, saying fighters carried out a targeted operation that was precise and sparked a fire on the ship

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (50%)

• The British Embassy claims that this is 'the sad and predictable result of the Houthis reckless missile launches on international shipping' but fails to mention that these attacks have been going on since November 2014 with most attacks unsuccessful amid U.S efforts to down incoming drones and rockets.
• The title of the article implies that two sailors were killed on a commercial vessel in Houthi attack when it was actually an Iran-backed Houthis who carried out the strike.
• The British Embassy claims that 'They must stop,' but it does not provide any information about how they can do so or what actions the UK is taking against them.

Fallacies (85%)

• The deaths were 'the sad and predictable result of the Houthis' reckless missile launches on international shipping.'
• The author makes a false dichotomy when he states that 'they must stop,' implying that there are only two options: either the Houthis stop their attacks or they continue and more people will die.
• The statement is not accurate as there are no records of any successful attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea or waters around Yemen by Houthi rebels.

Bias (85%)

• A Houthi rebel attack on Wednesday killed at least two sailors on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden, forcing the crew to abandon ship
• The Houthis warned other ships, saying they must “respond to the calls of the Yemeni naval forces and all crews of the targeted ships must quickly depart after the first strike”
• The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike on the Liberian-owned and Barbados-flagged bulk carrier called the True Confidence near Yemen

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The author writes, 'Israel has been accused of providing military aid to Yemeni rebels fighting against Houthi forces.'
• The author writes, 'Yemen is a key ally for both the United States and Britain in the fight against terrorism.'