2 U.S. Navy SEALs Missing After Falling off Boat During Search Mission off Somalia

Two U.S. Navy SEALs are currently missing off the coast of Somalia following a mission to intercept Iranian weapons destined for Somalian piracy groups, according to reports.

The incident occurred during a mission unrelated to Operation Prosperity Guardian. The SEALs, attached to the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3), fell overboard from a small special operations boat while attempting to raid a fishing vessel in 8ft swells, reports say.

The mission aimed to thwart the transfer of illegal weapons parts, including warheads and engines for Iranian ballistic missiles, to Somalian piracy groups. Recent intelligence suggests the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Houthi Terrorist Group in Western Yemen have been providing such weapons to these groups.

The intercepted vessel, a dhow without a country flag, had a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia. As the SEALs boarded the vessel in rough seas around 8 pm local time, one was knocked off by high waves, prompting a teammate to go after him. Both SEALs are currently missing.

The dhow's crew, totaling 12 members with no paperwork, was taken into custody. The confiscated weapons were part of routine procedure, leading to the sinking of the vessel. The Navy continues its search with ships, helicopters, and drones scouring the Gulf of Aden.

The SEALs reportedly fell into the water one after the other during the nighttime boarding mission on Thursday. It remains unclear what prompted them to board the vessel.

Standard protocol for SEALs involves jumping into the water to rescue a fellow SEAL who falls overboard. Search operations for the missing SEALs are ongoing, as confirmed by a defense official.

The SEALs were not part of the multinational operation to protect ships in the Red Sea area from militant attacks or the U.S. strikes in Yemen against Houthi fighters, two defense officials stated.

The Gulf of Aden has witnessed increased U.S. Naval activity due to over two dozen attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen against commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid-November. U.S. Navy ships deployed to these waters have responded to distress calls or have intercepted Houthi drones and missiles. On Thursday and Friday, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against nearly 30 locations associated with the Houthi attacks.

A statement from U.S. Central Command issued on Friday confirmed the missing sailors, reporting that they were conducting operations off the coast of Somalia on the evening of January 11. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with additional information being withheld for operational security and out of respect for the affected families.

Nighttime boarding operations are among the most complex and dangerous tasks Navy sailors undertake, with constant monitoring of ocean sea states and environmental considerations.