Intox: false information surrounding the ship captured by the Houthi rebels
On November 19, Houthi rebels announced that they had taken control of a commercial ship in the Red Sea, which they presented as being Israeli, in retaliation for Israel’s offensive in Gaza. This capture sparked numerous reactions on social networks, including pro-Palestinian accounts claiming that the ship was carrying weapons. However, further verification reveals that this information is actually false.
Indeed, several accounts shared a photo purported to be proof that the captured ship contained weapons. In this image, we can see a series of vehicles, including military trucks and zodiacs, arranged on the deck of a boat. However, a reverse image search tells us that this photo is from 2022 and actually shows an Emirati ship captured by the Houthis around that time.
This Emirati ship was seized by Houthi rebels in January 2022. The Houthis claimed that the ship was carrying “military equipment” and that it had entered Yemeni waters without authorization. International media then confirmed this information, publishing other photos of the captured ship. So the photo shared as proof that the ship captured in November 2023 was carrying weapons is actually of another ship captured in 2022.
Therefore, there is no evidence to date that the commercial vessel captured by the Houthi rebels on November 19 was carrying weapons. Additionally, the video of the attack released by the rebels also does not show the presence of weapons on board the ship. It is therefore important to exercise caution and verify sources before sharing information on social media, so as not to contribute to the spread of false information.
It is also crucial to emphasize that current events in the Middle East are complex and that it is necessary to rely on reliable and verified sources to form an informed opinion. Becoming more vigilant in the face of manipulation and false information helps preserve the integrity of information and contributes to a constructive and honest debate.