Two US navy SEALs declared dead after failed search in seizure operation off Somalia

In a statement released on Sunday, US Central Command (Centcom) announced the unfortunate deaths of two missing US Navy Seals. The elite personnel had been part of an operation on January 11 to intercept Iranian weapons en route to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Despite a rigorous 10-day search, the Seals were not located, prompting Centcom to officially change their status to deceased. The operation involved boarding an illicit dhow off the coast of Somalia, where missile components made in Iran were successfully seized. Centcom described this seizure as the “first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons” to the Houthis since the initiation of Houthi attacks on merchant ships in November 2023. The US military clarified that the Seals went missing during a “flag verification” of the dhow near Somalia’s coast. Executing a complex night-time boarding operation, supported by helicopters and drones, the Seals seized Iranian-made ballistic and cruise missile components. Earlier reports indicated that the Seals approached the dhow in small special operations combat boats. During the boarding in challenging sea conditions, one Seal commando was knocked into the sea by a high wave, prompting another to dive in after him following protocol. Houthi rebels began targeting ships in the Red Sea in November, claiming connections to Israel. The attacks, allegedly in support of Palestinians in Gaza, led the US and Britain to strike dozens of Houthi rebel targets. Despite these actions, the rebels persisted in targeting ships, causing significant diversions in global trade passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This vital Red Sea entrance, situated between southwest Yemen and Djibouti, has witnessed increased tension and disruptions due to the ongoing conflict. (with inputs from AFP)