US Army officials said on Sunday that two US Navy SEALS, who went missing in the Gulf of Aden this month during a raid on an Iranian ship, have not been located after an extensive search and their status has been changed to deceased.
The command wrote The US Central Command reported on the X website that they were announced missing after they boarded the ship on January 11 in an operation near the coast of Somalia.
General Michael Eric Kurella, commander of the US Central Command, said in a statement, “We mourn two of our special forces warriors.” "For the Navy, we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers go out to the families and friends of the SEALs, the US Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time."
CENTCOM said in the statement that a joint operation carried out by the United States, Spain and Japan searched more than 54,000 square kilometers of ocean. Searching for missing Special Forces personnel.
US Central Command said that mission had now become a recovery operation.
The United States carried out a series of strikes against Houthi targets in response to their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, which disrupted global trade. It raised fears of disruption to supplies.
The US military said that US Central Command forces on Saturday bombed an anti-ship missile launched by the Houthis that was targeting the Gulf of Aden and was ready for launch.
The Houthis, who control the most populated parts of Yemen, say Their attacks on commercial ships aim to support the Palestinians in the Israeli war in Gaza.
The Houthi movement pledged to continue the attacks despite the strikes that targeted radar and missile capabilities last week.