Two members of the United States Navy are currently missing following an unsuccessful night boarding mission off the coast of Somalia, sparking search and rescue efforts by the U.S. Central Command in the Gulf of Aden.
Two members of the United States Navy are currently missing following an unsuccessful night boarding mission at sea, which occurred off the coast of Somalia on Thursday.
The operation, led by the Navy SEALs, involved intercepting a ship. According to three SEALs who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the incident unfolded when one of the officers lost stability due to a high wave and was subsequently shot down. In adherence to protocol, the partner of the fallen soldier leaped into the water to provide assistance.
In response to the situation, the United States Central Command initiated search and rescue operations in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, the designated operational area.
As of now, the whereabouts of both missing officers remain unknown. Despite the uncertainty, there is a glimmer of hope as the region is experiencing warm temperatures, potentially favoring the survival of the individuals involved.
In a statement, the Central Command indicated that, due to operational security considerations, additional information, including the identities of the missing officers and the specifics of the mission, will not be disclosed until the conclusion of the ongoing operation.
The military personnel were deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, contributing regularly to various missions such as countering piracy and intercepting weapons shipments bound for Yemen to support Houthi rebels.
Notably, Central Command clarified that the recent incident is unrelated to Operation Prosperity Guardian, a coalition involving naval forces from over 20 countries united in safeguarding secure passage in the Red Sea. This initiative, launched by Washington on December 19, aims to neutralize threats posed by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which have been impacting maritime trade in the area.
Furthermore, the failed mission is not connected to joint maneuvers conducted by the United States and the United Kingdom targeting rebel targets in Yemen this week. These actions were taken after repeated warnings issued by the West regarding rebel attacks on shipping companies.
The incident also has no association with the recent confiscation of the St. Nikolas oil tanker by the Iranian regime. Central Command has refrained from providing additional details on the ongoing operation until its conclusion.
