2 US Navy SEALs Missing in Somalia During Nighttime Mission
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Two U.S. Navy SEALs are missing after falling into the water during a nighttime boarding mission off the coast of Somalia, according to U.S. officials. It was unclear what caused the SEALs to board the vessel and the reason for the operation they were conducting remains undisclosed. The Gulf of Aden, where the incident occurred, has become a hotspot of U.S. Naval activity due to attacks by Houthi militants on commercial ships.
US Navy SEALs Missing Off Somalia Coast During Nighttime Boarding Mission
Two US Navy SEALs are reportedly missing after falling overboard during a nighttime boarding mission off the Somalia coast. The incident occurred while boarding a vessel in the Gulf of Aden, although the reason for boarding remains unclear.
Standard SEAL protocol dictates that if a fellow SEAL falls overboard, other SEALs are to jump in for rescue. Search and rescue operations for the missing personnel are ongoing, as confirmed by a US defense official.
Increased US Naval activity has been reported in the Gulf of Aden due to Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. US Navy ships in the region have responded to distress calls from attacked commercial vessels and intercepted Houthi drones and missiles.
US forces have recently carried out airstrikes against nearly 30 Houthi locations. A statement from the US Central Command confirmed the missing sailors, stating “Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors.”
However, the statement did not disclose further details about the operation, citing operational security. It also stated that the sailors were deployed to the US 5th Fleet (C5F) area of operations and that no more information will be released out of respect for the affected families.
Nighttime boarding operations are considered highly complex and dangerous, with ocean sea states and environmental considerations being constantly monitored, as per a former US official.
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