A frantic search is underway in the waters off the Somalia coast for two Navy SEALS who disappeared during a dangerous night mission on Thursday.
The Associated Press reported three U.S. officials confirmed the SEALS were engaged in a nighttime boarding mission when the accident occurred. One was climbing into the vessel when he was knocked into the water by waves, and a second SEAL went in after him.
U.S. Central Command released a statement on Friday. “On the evening of January 11, two U.S. Navy Sailors were reported missing at sea while conducting operations off the coast of Somalia. Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors.”
Officials reported the SEALS were supporting “a wide variety of missions” during their operation in the Gulf of Aden. The region features relatively warm waters, according to authorities.
The naval team was apparently not attached to Operation Prosperity Guardian. This initiative seeks to stymie regular attacks against commercial shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
🇺🇸Pentagon says two service members missing are Navy SEALs that were attempting to board a ship off the coast of Somalia on Thursday night.
In rough seas, one of them
slipped off the boarding ladder and a member of the team then jumped into the water to try to rescue him. Both… pic.twitter.com/H4J61HvQfB— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) January 14, 2024
The sailors were also not involved in the retaliatory strikes on targets in Yemen in recent days. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, sources further confirmed that the exercises were not related to Iran’s seizure of the oil tanker St. Nikolas.
The team was undertaking an interdiction mission. SEAL protocol calls for a member of the team to enter the waters when another is overtaken by waves.
The Navy said that after its initial press release, there would be no further word on the search and rescue operation until it was completed. The SEALS are part of the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
It is unclear exactly what type of maritime vessel the U.S. military personnel were attempting to board or for what reason.
However, the Washington Post noted that American forces routinely engage in “interdiction” missions off the coast of Somalia that involve boarding ships. This is done to establish that the vessels are properly credentialed and are not engaged in moving illicit goods.
The area has become a flashpoint for tensions with the Israel-Hamas war and ensuing attacks on commercial traffic carried out by Iran-backed forces.
