In Yemen, the Houthi rebels have managed to seize an ultra-sophisticated underwater drone, according to numerous publications on social networks shared by accounts close to the Yemeni rebels. A video is supposed to provide proof. RFI looked into the question. In the end, this is a fake news launched on the internet to add to the confusion as naval and air skirmishes have become frequent in the Red Sea.
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The video circulating on social networks lasts barely thirty seconds, but it has been widely shared by different accounts in the Arab world, in Turkey, and even by certain Russian-speaking accounts. We see frogmen moving around a mini yellow submarine which is shaped like a torpedo.
Video taken out of context, supposedly showing the capture of an American underwater drone by rebels in Yemen
A video has been published of the Houthis capturing one of the US Navy’s newest autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) “Remus 600” off the coast of Yemen
According to some rumors, the device is already being studied by specialists from Iran. pic.twitter.com/Ytiz2Inu1a
— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) February 21, 2024
According to many comments, it is a Remus 600: “ the latest underwater drone of the US Navy, the Houthis have just captured one ». Other Internet users add “ that they will send it to Iran to be copied “. Photographs are often attached to the video. These captures show gray-colored debris on a beach.
A quick search reveals that the Remus 600s used by the US Navy are mostly painted gray or black. This information therefore attracts our attention.
Verification made, the underwater drone appearing in the video is indeed a robot intended for deep observation. It did indeed fall into the hands of the Houthis, but that is not new. A reverse image search establishes that the video has been circulating for at least six years.
On YouTube we find an identical video but it dates back to 2018.
After cross-checking, the gray debris found on the shore comes from an unmanned aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper, probably shot down by the Houthis. The Pentagon confirmed the loss of the aircraft this Wednesday, February 21.
Identification of Reaper drone parts found in the Red Sea
A video released by the Houthis yesterday showed chunks of a downed MQ-9A ER Reaper drone. Analysis of the video of the wreckage shows that the drone carried another example of the mystery pod that have appeared in Japan, Syria, Kuwait, and Romania, with a few changes. 1/2 https://t.co/WeCYuBhaJo pic.twitter.com/69u1EEc41D
— Amelia Smith (@ameliairheart) February 20, 2024