In a tragic turn of events, two US Navy SEALs who went missing earlier this month during a raid on a boat carrying Iranian weapons in the Gulf of Aden have been declared deceased, according to military officials. The SEALs were reported missing after a January 11 operation near the coast of Somalia. Despite an exhaustive search, their whereabouts remain unknown, prompting the change in their status to deceased.
The operation involved boarding a vessel suspected of carrying Iranian weapons, but it took an unfortunate turn. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community are in their thoughts. General Michael Erik Kurilla, the CENTCOM Commander, expressed mourning for the loss of the two Naval Special Warfare warriors, emphasizing the eternal honor of their sacrifice and example.
A joint operation, including the United States, Spain, and Japan, covered over 21,000 square miles of ocean in the search for the missing SEALs. Despite these efforts, the mission has transitioned from a search to a recovery operation, acknowledging the grim reality of the situation.
Separately, tensions in the region persist with the US responding to Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. The US Central Command forces recently carried out strikes against Houthi targets. In a notable incident on Saturday, a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Gulf of Aden was successfully struck before it could be launched.
The Houthi movement, controlling significant parts of Yemen, claims its attacks on commercial ships are in support of the Palestinians amid Israel’s conflict in Gaza. Despite recent strikes against their capabilities, the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks. These developments add to concerns about global trade disruption and potential supply bottlenecks, prompting ongoing efforts to address the situation in the region.
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