The Red Sea region is witnessing heightened tensions as the Houthis launched attacks on U.S. warships, escalating conflict. The U.S. also responded with airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
Recently, a short clip allegedly US Navy using laser weapon technology to destroy Houthis drones has been shared among social media users.
You can see one such social media post here:
The Facebook post mentions:
“US military uses a new ‘laser weapon’ for the first time to destroy drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen!”
However, Fact Crescendo’s findings show that the social media claims are misleading as an image of the USS Preble (DDG-88) deploying its HELIOS laser weapon system at sea in 2024 has been falsely shared as US Navy destroying Houthis drones using laser weapon technology.
Fact Check:
We applied Google reverse search on the shared image, which led us to a website named USA vision. According to the published article, In its 498-page 2024 report, the U.S. Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation released an image of the USS Preble (DDG-88) deploying its HELIOS laser weapon system at sea. This image, one of the clearest in recent years, highlights the growing importance of this technology in Washington’s strategic vision.
The article further stated that The HELIOS system (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance) marks a significant transition from theoretically directed energy weapons to their concrete and operational application on the battlefield.
Conclusion
Hence from the above investigation, it is now clear that the social media claims are misleading as an image of the USS Preble (DDG-88) deploying its HELIOS laser weapon system at sea in 2024 has been falsely shared as US Navy using laser weapon technology to destroy Houthis drones in Yemen.
