Watan-Social media platforms have been buzzing in the past few hours with a video clip claiming to document moments of an Israeli-owned shipping vessel burning in the Indian Ocean. The footage alleges that the ship, identified as the “Kalandra” owned by the Israeli shipping company ZIM, was targeted by the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.
Activists circulated the video, revealing intense flames engulfing the vessel reported to be the “Kalandra,” owned by the Israeli shipping company ZIM, as it burned in the Indian Ocean.
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سفينة الحاويات «كالاندرا» المملوكة لشركة الشحن الإسرائيلية ZIM تحترق في المحيد الهندي (البحر العربي)
אוניית המכולות "Calandra", בבעלות חברת הספנות הישראלית צים, בוערת באוקיינוס ההודי (הים הערבי) pic.twitter.com/B8LFsyF5tK— ٱلَأشّےـتُےـر ⛧ 🎫 (@qp2025) November 25, 2023
The reality of the video is different; it has been found to be inaccurate and not related to the recent targeting of an Israeli ship in the Indian Ocean.
This video dates back to May 2021, depicting a cargo ship carrying 25 tons of nitric acid that caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka at that time.
In the details of this incident, the Sri Lankan navy confirmed that the ship, named MV X-Press Pearl, had caught fire. They suggested that the fire resulted from chemicals transported aboard the ship, loaded in Hazira, India. The ship, flying the flag of Singapore, was carrying 1486 containers, including 25 tons of nitric acid. It was awaiting entry to the port of Colombo before the fire broke out.
Attack on an Israeli Cargo Ship
Earlier, a U.S. defense official confirmed that a cargo ship owned by an Israeli billionaire had come under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean. The ship, flying the Maltese flag, is believed to have been targeted by an unmanned aerial vehicle of Shahed-136 type while in international waters.
The official declined to provide details about the intelligence on which the U.S. military assessed Iran’s involvement in targeting the ship, pointing to the U.S. authorities’ suspicion of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in Tehran.
Houthi Rebels Seize an Israeli Ship
On November 19, the Houthi rebel group announced the seizure of an Israeli ship, towing it to the shores of Yemen. They stated that they would target any ships related to Israel, bearing the Israeli flag, owned or operated by Israeli companies.
The Houthi group called on countries worldwide to withdraw their personnel from these ships and avoid dealing with them or approaching them at sea.