Did Yemen’s Houthi rebels really sink several cargo ships in the Red Sea, as some Internet users claim?

Videos widely shared on social networks show imposing ships sinking. Internet users behind their publications claim that these are cargo ships sunk after missile attacks carried out by the Houthis in Yemen. It’s wrong.

Have Yemen’s Houthis sunk merchant ships in recent weeks? These rebels have increased attacks in the Red Sea since October 7 and the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, in solidarity with the Palestinians. This corridor is a strategic crossing point for world trade.

A video widely relayed on social networks shows a bulk carrier ship sinking, and some Internet users claim that it is the Rubymar, an English boat hit by a Houthi attack. This is false, it is in fact theAtlantic Confidencewhich sank in 2013 due to a fire off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman.

However, the Rubymar was indeed attacked on Monday February 19, and the Houthis assure that the ship sank. The English government acknowledges that the crew was brought to safety, and that the cargo ship was taking on water, but without saying whether the Rubymar is lost.

Frequent poisoning

The very first account to have published the video of theAtlantic Confidence sinking, claiming that it was the Rubymar, is a certain Victor. The Internet user describes himself as a Russian commentator and blogger, he is largely pro-Putin.

This is not the first time that videos of ships in distress have been attributed to Houthi attacks. Last month, similar publications were relayed massively on social networks: an alleged American cargo ship in flames after an attack by the Houthis. In reality, the images date from 2021, off the coast of Sri Lanka.

To find out if a photo or video is real or fake, reverse image search allows you to go back to the original publication of the content. For the case of the video which shows a cargo other than the Rubymarit doesn’t work, because the quality is too bad.

On the other hand, several Internet users point out in comments links to NATO articles which provide information. Anti-West falsehoods surrounding attacks in the Red Sea have been increasing in recent weeks. This strategic passageway of global trade is now a new geopolitical hotspot, due to the war between Israel and Hamas.