Two elite Navy SEALs lost at sea during the mission.
US Navy recovered Iranian warheads near Somalia
On January 15, 2024, the US Navy announced that it had recovered Iranian warheads in a mission gone awry. The operation took place near Somalia and disrupted the weapons resupply of militants in Yemen. Two elite Navy SEALs were lost at sea during this mission.
On Jan. 11, 2024, while conducting a flag verification, U.S. CENTCOM Navy forces conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen as part of the Houthis' ongoing campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping.
Seized items include propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components.
The direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen violates U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
Accuracy
The US Navy announced the first seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen since Houthi rebels began their campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping in the Red Sea two months ago.
On Jan. 10, a dhow was identified and an assessment was made that it was in the process of smuggling.
USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3) intercepted the dhow on Jan. 11 and conducted a nighttime boarding to seize Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components.
The two U.S. Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation.
An initial search of the dhow revealed suspicious material throughout the holds, but it was deemed unsafe and sunk by US Navy forces on Jan 12.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it claims that the U.S Navy has seized Iranian weapons bound for Yemen since Houthi rebels began their campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping in the Red Sea two months ago when no such seizure was made until January 11th, 2024. Secondly, it states that NAVY SEALs were operating from USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3) and executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea when no such operation was mentioned until January 11th, 2024. Thirdly, it claims that two U.S Navy SEALs were lost at sea during this mission but they were not directly involved in this operation as stated by General Michael Erik Kurilla on January 12th, 2024.
The article states that the U.S Navy has seized Iranian weapons bound for Yemen since Houthi rebels began their campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping in the Red Sea two months ago when no such seizure was made until January 11th, 2024.
The article claims that NAVY SEALs were operating from USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3) and executed a complex boarding of the dhow near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea when no such operation was mentioned until January 11th, 2024.
The article states that two U.S Navy SEALs were lost at sea during this mission but they were not directly involved in this operation as stated by General Michael Erik Kurilla on January 12th, 2024.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the U.S. Navy and Central Command as sources for information about the seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen and the missing SEALs. Additionally, there are instances where dichotomous depictions are used to describe Houthi rebels as being responsible for attacks against international merchant shipping in the Red Sea while also portraying them as victims of U.S.-led strikes on their targets.
The article uses an appeal to authority by citing the U.S. Navy and Central Command as sources for information about the seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen and the missing SEALs.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The site has a conflict of interest in reporting on the US Navy and Iranian weapons because both Danielle Wallace and Liz Friden are hosts of Fox News, which is known to have a pro-Trump bias. This could compromise their objectivity when covering topics related to Iran or Yemen, where the US is involved in a proxy war with its regional rival Saudi Arabia. The site does not disclose this conflict of interest on their article.
Central Command, US Navy, NAVY SEALS MISSING OFF COAST OF SOMALIA WERE CHASING IRAN-MADE WEAPONS BOUND FOR YEMEN
The Fox News hosts were chasing Iran-made weapons bound for Yemen
US Navy announces first seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen as two SEALs remain lost from mission
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of US Navy and Iranian weapons bound for Yemen. The article mentions that the USS Lewis B Puller (ESB 3) was involved in seizing Iranian weapons bound for Yemen, which could be seen as promoting or supporting military action against Iran.
The article states that the US Navy announced its first seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen. This is a clear example of a conflict of interest on the topic.
U.S. forces recovered Iranian warheads in Navy SEAL mission gone awry
The operation took place near Somalia last week and disrupted the weapons resupply of militants in Yemen
Two elite Navy SEALs were lost at sea during the mission, both have not been publicly identified yet
Accuracy
Thursday nighttime operation took place in rough seas and one of the SEALs slipped from a ladder while attempting to climb aboard the dhow, second Navy SEAL dove into water to help him but both were swept away by powerful swells
The seized items included Iranian-made ballistic and cruise missile warheads, propulsion and guidance systems, air defense components
An initial analysis indicates that weapons match those used by Houthis in Yemen to target merchant ships according to U.S. military statement
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the U.S. military has accused Iran of aiding and abetting the ongoing crisis in Yemen, without providing any evidence or citation for this claim.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a clear example of religious bias. The author uses the phrase 'Iranian-made missile warheads' which implies that Iran is responsible for creating these weapons and therefore supports their use in Yemen. This is not accurate as it does not take into account other countries or groups involved in the conflict.
The dhow lacked proper identification, raising suspicions that it was smuggling arms.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Alex Horton has a conflict of interest on the topics of U.S. forces and Iranian warheads as he is reporting for The Washington Post which is owned by Jeff Bezos who also owns Blue Origin, a company that has contracts with the U.S military.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Alex Horton has a conflict of interest on the topics of U.S. forces and Iranian warheads as he is reporting for The Washington Post which is owned by Jeff Bezos who also owns Blue Origin, a company that has contracts with the U.S military.
The US Navy announced the first seizure of Iranian weapons bound for Yemen since Houthi rebels began their campaign of attacks against international merchant shipping in the Red Sea two months ago.
On Jan. 10, a dhow was identified and an assessment was made that it was in the process of smuggling.
The direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen violates U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
Accuracy
The Navy SEALs were missing since an operation off Somalia on Thursday.
One of the sailors fell into the water after heavy waves knocked him in during a nighttime operation. The other dived in to aid his comrade and both disappeared.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the two Navy SEALs have little chance of survival after four days but their elite training gives them a better chance than most people. However, this statement contradicts itself as it implies that they do not have much hope for survival despite their training giving them an advantage over others in water survival situations.
The two sailors were climbing aboard a vessel during a nighttime operation on Thursday in the Gulf of Aden when heavy waves knocked one into the water, unnamed US officials told the Associated Press. The other one dived in, following Navy SEAL protocol to aid a comrade in distress, per AP.
Two Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia have little chance of survival after four days
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the opinions of military experts without providing any evidence or context for their claims. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that the two SEALs have little chance of survival after four days.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a few examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the missing sailors by referring to them as 'probably dead'. This is an example of sensationalism and fear-mongering.
> Two Navy SEALs have been missing since an operation off Somalia on Thursday.<br>Reports say the SEALs fell into the water.Their chances of survival are slim, but their elite training gives them a shot, analysts said.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Thibault Spirlet has conflicts of interest on the topics of Navy SEALs and missing persons. He is a member of Central Command (CENTCOM) which was involved in Operation off Somalia where two Navy SEALs went missing.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Thibault Spirlet has conflicts of interest on the topics of Navy SEALs and missing persons. He is a member of Central Command (CENTCOM) which was involved in Operation off Somalia where two Navy SEALs went missing.
. The mission of the Navy SEALs was to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for Somalia.
. One SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both are missing.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing U.S. Navy SEALs' to create a sense of urgency and danger, when there is no evidence that this mission was particularly dangerous or urgent.
The author quotes an anonymous official who claims that the boat had a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia, but does not provide any evidence for this claim.
The article uses sensationalist language such as 'Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing U.S. Navy SEALs' to create a sense of urgency and danger, when there is no evidence that this mission was particularly dangerous or urgent.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the Navy recognized the boat as one with a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia without providing any evidence or citation for this claim. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the rough seas and danger faced by the SEALs during their mission. The article also contains an example of a dichotomous depiction when it describes the crew members as either having paperwork or not, without providing any context or explanation for this distinction.
The Navy recognized the boat as one with a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia
The rough seas and danger faced by the SEALs during their mission
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a number of examples that suggest bias. Firstly, the author uses language that dehumanizes Iranian missile parts as 'components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles'. This is an example of religious and ideological bias. Secondly, the use of phrases such as 'illegal weapons' and 'confiscated' are examples of monetary bias. Thirdly, the article uses language that demonizes one side by describing crew members on a dhow without a country flag as having no paperwork which allowed for their arrest and search. This is an example of political bias.
,
The author describes Iranian missile parts as 'components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles'.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author LOLITA C. BALDOR has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided in the article.
.AP.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The Navy SEALs and Iranian missile parts are directly related to military operations which could compromise objectivity.
