FACT CHECK: No, the Houthis Did Not Sink 4 US Ships In Recent Attack

Elias Atienza | Senior Reporter
A video shared on Facebook claimed Iranian-backed Houthi rebels sunk four United States ships in a recent attack.

Verdict: Misleading

While the Houthis did attack these four ships, there is no evidence that they were sunk. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) denied that the Houthis damaged any of the ships and the Houthis did not claim they sunk any ships, though they did claim strikes were “accurate and direct.”

Fact Check:

The Houthis launched an attack on the U.S. Navy and other vessels from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, according to the Associated Press. The attack was repelled by the U.S. Navy, per the outlet.

The Times of India claimed that the Houthis hit these ships with 17 missiles and sunk them. The Facebook post reads, “17 Missiles Sink 4 Ships: Houthis Strike U.S. Warship, Oil Tanker, Container Ships In Arabian Sea.”

This claim is false. There is no evidence that the ships were sunk in the attack. CENTCOM denied that any ships were damaged in a Dec. 1 statement.

“U.S. Navy destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and the USS O’Kane (DDG 77) successfully defeated a range of Houthi-launched weapons while transiting the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 30 – Dec. 1.  The destroyers were escorting three U.S. owned, operated, flagged merchant vessels and the reckless attacks resulted in no injuries and no damage to any vessels, civilian or U.S. Naval,” reads part of the statement.

The statement continues, “The destroyers successfully engaged and defeated three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), three one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAS), and one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), ensuring the safety of the ships and their personnel, as well as civilian vessels and their crews.”

The Houthis claimed to have targeted a destroyer and three other ships. They claimed to have targeted the ships and that these strikes were “accurate and direct.” (RELATED: Will Trump Return To The White House Before January 20, 2025?)

They did not claim to have sunk all four ships. Therefore, we rate this claim misleading.

Elias Atienza

Senior Reporter
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