Two Navy SEALs who went missing off the Somalia coast have been declared dead by the Pentagon.
The SEALs went missing on January 11 during a nighttime raid on an Iranian ship, Knewz.com has learned.
The Navy SEALs do not advertise the nature of their work. By: Navy SEALs
“We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased.”
“The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and we are now conducting recovery operations,” United States Central Command wrote on X.
Central Command also explained that troops conducted an expansive search operation that included airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan and Spain.
The troops searched 21,000 square miles with assistance from Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support.
Two Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia have been declared deceased. By: Navy SEALs
“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,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander.
As Knewz.com reported on January 15, a SEAL was climbing up a vessel when he fell into the water after getting knocked off by high waves. Another SEAL jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue the one who fell, which is protocol.
The mission was being conducted in the Gulf of Aden.
The Navy SEALs seized ballistic missiles bound for the Houthi rebels. BY: U.S. Navy SEALs
The U.S. Navy has been conducting frequent interdiction missions, intercepting weapons on ships that were bound for Houthi-controlled Yemen.
However, the mission was not part of the U.S.’s Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international mission to protect commercial missiles in the Red Sea, where the Houthis rebels are wreaking havoc, officials told the Associated Press.
Nor was the mission part of U.S. and United Kingdom retaliatory strikes against the Houthis conducted over the weekend of January 13 and 14.
The identities of the men have not been released. Associated Press reported they were “forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting a wide variety of missions.”
The U.S. Navy struck the Houthis multiple times. By: Navy SEALs
During the mission, the SEALs seized “lethal aid” from Iran that was being transported to supply Houthi forces.
As Knewz.com reported on January 16, U.S. Central Command announced the seizure of Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components.
The Navy SEALs also seized propulsion, guidance and warheads for Houthi medium range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defense associated components.
“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” U.S. Central Command wrote on X.
The Navy SEALs are the U.S.’s premier maritime special operations force. By: Navy SEALs
The Navy SEALs seized the weapons while conducting a nighttime operation on a dhow conducting illegal transport of advanced lethal aid from the Houthis on Thursday, January 11.
The mission was the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis since they began wreaking havoc in the Red Sea in November 2023.
“The direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen violates U.N. Security Resolution 2216 and international law,” U.S. Central Command noted.
News Related-
The best Walmart Cyber Monday deals 2023
-
Jordan Poole took time to showboat and got his shot blocked into the stratosphere
-
The Top Canadian REITs to Buy in November 2023
-
OpenAI’s board might have been dysfunctional–but they made the right choice. Their defeat shows that in the battle between AI profits and ethics, it’s no contest
-
Russia-Ukraine Drone Warfare Rages With Dozens Headed for Moscow, Amid Deadly Winter Storm
-
Trump tells appeals court that threats to judge and clerk in NY civil fraud trial do not justify gag order
-
Can Anyone Take Paxlovid for Covid? Doctors Explain.
-
Google this week will begin deleting inactive accounts. Here's how to save yours.
-
How John Tortorella's Culture Extends from the Philadelphia Flyers to the AHL Phantoms
-
Tri-Cities' hatcheries report best Coho return in years
-
Wild release Dean Evason of head coaching duties
-
Air New Zealand’s Cyber Monday Sale Has the 'Lowest Fares of 2023' to Auckland, Sydney, and More
-
NDP tells Liberals to sweeten the deal if pharmacare legislation is delayed
-
'1,000 contacts with a club': Tiger Woods breaks down his typical tournament prep to college kids in fascinating video