# Fact-check: Ablaze sea-faring tanker image not a bombing by Yemen

> Investigating a social media post claiming Yemeni attacks on shipping vessels

**Published by:** [The Online Sleuth](https://paragraph.com/@theonlinesleuth/)
**Published on:** 2024-03-15
**Categories:** fact-check, altered image, computer-generated image, yemen, ship, red sea
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@theonlinesleuth/burning-ship-yemen

## Content

FALSE: An image showing a generic cargo ship with no company branding ablaze in the sea, as attacked by Yemen Houthis, is widely shared on social media. This link shows the image posted in a meme widely shared on various social media platforms. This Google Lens search demonstrates the results of a reverse search with links to all postings of the image on different social media. Aditya Juans Mandagie @AdityaMandagie Another Ship has been targeted! Bravo Brave Yemen! Menyhala Abhangkuh!! 101 19:58 • 4 Mar 2024 While the image may seem natural, it is proven fake or computer-generated. When uploaded and scanned using the software Fake Image Detector, it results in a "computer-generated" image, as shown in this link. On closer inspection of the image, a viewer can notice the following: 1. The ship is loaded with cargo, and the water line is low on the base. 2. Metal boxes do not burn in the manner of the image. The fire on the left side of the ship looks unnatural since the fire seems to be burning the metal outer frame of the vessel. 3. This ship is in a port. The Houthis would not likely be attacking any nearby seaports. 4. The tug boat spraying water aims at a part of the ship that is not ablaze and is not extinguishing the fire. 5. Moreover, the ambient parts of the image look unreal and show distinct signs of computer AI generation and/or manipulation. The image was further fact-checked and found to be computer-generated, as per the references here and here.

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