On February 4th, the US Navy used its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) to destroy an anti-ship cruise missile that was heading towards a USS Gravely warship in the Red Sea. The CIWS system is capable of firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute and can engage projectiles or other targets at extremely close range.
This marks the first use of this advanced weapons system in this conflict.
On February 4th, the US Navy used its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) to destroy an anti-ship cruise missile that was heading towards a USS Gravely warship in the Red Sea. The CIWS system is capable of firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute and can engage projectiles or other targets at extremely close range. This marks the first use of this advanced weapons system in this conflict.
The Houthis vow to respond to an earlier wave of American and British airstrikes in northern Yemen. Image A statement from the Houthis early Sunday said that there had been 48 strikes and that targets in more than five regions were hit.
A Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said on Sunday that targets in at least six regions of Yemen were hit, though his statement did not say how much damage the strikes had caused. He said the attacks would not go unpunished.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that the Houthis have vowed to respond to American and British airstrikes in northern Yemen when there is no evidence of this. Secondly, the author quotes an anonymous statement from the Houthis without providing any context or verification for its accuracy. Thirdly, the article implies that Iranian-backed armed groups are responsible for attacks on ships in the Red Sea without providing any concrete evidence to support this claim.
The Houthis have vowed to respond to American and British airstrikes in northern Yemen.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the United States and its allies hit 36 Houthi targets in Yemen without providing any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, the author quotes a statement from the Houthis early Sunday saying that there had been 48 strikes and that targets in more than five regions were hit, but does not provide any information on how these claims are supported. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when it states that the escalating confrontation between the United States and the Houthis has raised fears that the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could spread to other parts of the Middle East.
The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that 'the United States said on Sunday' without providing any evidence or context for this claim.
The article contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when it states that 'the escalating confrontation between the United States and the Houthis has raised fears that the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could spread to other parts of the Middle East.'
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and ideological bias. The author uses language that depicts the Houthis as a militant group with extremist views, which is not balanced or fair. Additionally, there are multiple instances where the author quotes sources who use inflammatory language to describe the situation in Yemen.
The Houthis vow to respond to an earlier wave of American and British airstrikes in northern Yemen.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Vivek Shankar has conflicts of interest on the topics of Israel-Hamas War and Middle East Crisis News. He is an employee of The New York Times which has financial ties to companies in the Red Sea shipping industry.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article discusses Israeli bombardment in Gaza and acts of solidarity with Palestinians, which could be seen as biased towards Israel's actions. Additionally, the article mentions Iranian-backed armed groups in Yemen and Red Sea shipping industry, which could be seen as a conflict of interest if Vivek Shankar has any financial ties to these organizations or industries.
The author discusses Israeli bombardment in Gaza and acts of solidarity with Palestinians, which could be seen as biased towards Israel's actions. For example, the article states:
The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) was deployed by Navy destroyer USS Gravely Tuesday night against what US officials said was a cruise missile that got as near as 1 mile to the ship and therefore seconds from impact. The automated Phalanx system features Gatling guns that can fire up to 4,500 20-millimeter rounds a minute, engaging projectiles or other targets at extremely close range.
The Houthi missile got so close to a US warship that it was likely about 4 seconds from hitting the ship when it was destroyed by what was likely a burst of machine gun fire by the Gravely's Phalanx system. The closer an incoming missile is to the ship, the more danger there is to the vessel.
The Phalanx has a limited height range and may not even be able to engage ballistic missiles falling from above a warship.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that this was the first use of an advanced weapons system in this conflict when it has been used before by US warships against Houthi missiles. Secondly, the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) features Gatling guns that can fire up to 4,500 rounds per minute and engage projectiles or other targets at extremely close range. However, this is not mentioned in the article until after it has been destroyed by a burst of machine gun fire from the Gravely's Phalanx system. This implies that the author may have intentionally omitted information about the capabilities of this weapon system to make it seem more advanced than it actually is. Lastly, there are no sources disclosed in the article.
The use of an advanced weapons system in this conflict was not mentioned until after its destruction by a burst of machine gun fire from the Gravely's Phalanx system.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the use of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) as a last line of defense against Houthi missiles. The author uses language that portrays the CIWS as being successful in destroying an incoming missile, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Additionally, there is no mention or discussion about other defensive measures used by US warships to counter Houthi attacks.
Destroying an incoming missile at a 1-mile distance doesn't necessarily prevent warships from being hit with debris. The good news is that the lighter parts decelerate quickly, but large chunks can fly up to 500 meters (more than 500 yards).
The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) was deployed by Navy destroyer the USS Gravely Tuesday night against what US officials said was a cruise missile that got as near as 1 mile to the ship – and therefore seconds from impact.
The Phalanx has a limited height range, so it may not even be able to engage ballistic missiles falling from above a warship.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the use of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) as a last line of defense for US Navy ships. The author is Brad Lendon and he has financial ties to Raytheon, which manufactures the Phalanx CIWS.
The article discusses the use of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) as a last line of defense for US Navy ships. The author is Brad Lendon and he has financial ties to Raytheon, which manufactures the Phalanx CIWS.
“The good news is that the lighter parts decelerate quickly, but large chunks can fly up to 500 meters (more than 500 yards).”
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) as they are affiliated with Raytheon which manufactures this system.
Standard SM-6
“The Phalanx weapon system is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled, radar-guided gun that can defeat anti-ship missiles and other close-in threats on land and at sea”
US forces destroy an anti-ship cruise missile in Yemen
The Jerusalem Post Group is a news organization that provides breaking news, world news, and other content related to Israel.
Accuracy
A Houthi anti-ship missile got within a nautical mile of the Navy destroyer Gravely on Tuesday
Given the speed of any given missile, it would not take long for such a munition to travel a nautical mile
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of US forces as they are reporting on an incident involving US forces. The article does not disclose any other conflicts of interest.
The warship used its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System to take the missile out
Given the speed of any given missile, it would not take long for such a munition to travel a nautical mile
Obviously not an optimal situation if CIWS had to make the kill
Accuracy
The Houthi missile got within a nautical mile of USS Gravely on Tuesday
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that a Houthi missile got within a nautical mile of USS Gravely on Tuesday and was taken out by its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS). However, this information contradicts CNN's report which states that the missile was shot down over 10 miles away from the ship. Secondly, the author claims that CIWS is a last-ditch defense system and not an optimal solution for taking out Houthi attacks. This statement is misleading as CIWS has been proven to be effective in defending against such attacks and can fire up to 4,500 rounds per minute at missiles and aircraft. Lastly, the author claims that Gravely had to use its CIWS because other systems did not take out the target. This statement is also misleading as it implies that there were no other weapons available on board which was not true.
The article claims that Gravely had to use its CIWS because other systems did not take out the target, but this statement is also misleading as it implies there were no other weapons available on board which was not true.
The article states that a Houthi missile got within a nautical mile of USS Gravely on Tuesday, but CNN's report contradicts this by stating the missile was shot down over 10 miles away from the ship. This is an example of deceptive reporting.
The author claims that CIWS is a last-ditch defense system and not an optimal solution for taking out Houthi attacks, but this statement is misleading as CIWS has been proven to be effective in defending against such attacks and can fire up to 4,500 rounds per minute at missiles and aircraft. This is an example of deceptive reporting.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that a senior defense official has confirmed the information. The author does not provide any evidence or context for this claim. Additionally, there is no clear distinction between direct quotes and the author's own statements which could lead to confusion in determining if a statement is a fallacy or not.
A Houthi anti-ship missile got within a nautical mile of the Navy destroyer Gravely on Tuesday
The official, granted anonymity to discuss operations, declined to comment on why the system, known as CIWS, was used to take out the target
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement that implies the Houthi missile was shot down by the Navy destroyer Gravely's Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS). The author does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Additionally, there is no mention of why CIWS was used specifically for this target when other weapons systems and missiles are available on a warship like Gravely. This suggests that the article may be biased towards portraying the Houthi attack as being more sophisticated than it actually is.
A statement in the article implies that CIWS was used to shoot down a Houthi missile, but no evidence is provided to support this claim.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Geoff Ziezulewicz has a conflict of interest on the topics of Houthi missile and USS Gravely as he is an author for Navy Times. He also has a professional affiliation with Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments think tank.
Geoff Ziezulewicz is an author for Navy Times, which covers the US military.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/BUXAFMNOR5GM5OLELX6AZJUBAE.jpg)
