Two U.S. Navy SEALs who went missing near the coast of Somalia in international waters of the Arabian Sea earlier this month, during a complex boarding of a dhow seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components, have not been located following an exhaustive search, and their status has been changed to deceased, military officials said on Sunday.
The weapons parts were intended to reach the Houthis in Yemen to help them disrupt shipping, claims the U.S. Central Command (Centcom).
The U.S. claimed seizing “propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components.”
The two U.S. Navy SEALs were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.
The SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased after a 10-day exhaustive search.
The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons on Januray 11 concluded, and the US Central Command is now conducting recovery operations.
During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate the “missing teammates,” as U.S Central Command said.
“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” pointed out General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.
It is worth mentioning that the dhow was deemed unsafe and sunk by U.S. Navy forces.
