Ships and Aircraft Deployed in Search Mission for Missing Navy SEALs
U.S. Navy ships and aircraft are actively searching areas of the Gulf of Aden for two **missing** U.S. Navy SEALs. The search operation follows their mission to board and seize a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles destined for Somalia.
Details of the Mission
A U.S. defense official revealed that the SEALs were on the USS Lewis B. Puller, a Navy expeditionary sea base vessel. They utilized small special operations combat craft to approach the vessel transporting the missile parts. The operation aimed to prevent the transfer of warheads and engines off the coast of Somalia.
Identification of the Suspicious Vessel
The vessel, identified as a dhow without a country flag, had a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia. Crew members aboard the dhow, totaling about a dozen, were taken into custody during the mission.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Tragically, during the boarding in rough seas around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL was knocked off by high waves. A teammate went in after him, and currently, both are **missing**. The ongoing search involves U.S. Navy ships, helicopters, and drones in the Gulf of Aden.
Interception and Confiscation
Despite facing approximately a dozen crew members, the SEAL team successfully confiscated the weapons, and the vessel was sunk as part of routine procedure. This process typically involves blowing open holes in the hull for safety reasons.
Context and Related Operations
Officials clarified that the SEAL mission is distinct from Operation Prosperity Guardian, the ongoing U.S. and international mission in the Red Sea. It is also unrelated to recent retaliatory strikes conducted by the United States and the United Kingdom in Yemen over the past two days.
