The US military announced on Sunday that the 10-day search for the two Navy SEALs lost in the Arabian Sea during a mission to board a ship and seize Iranian-made weapons has concluded, and the individuals are now officially deemed deceased.
According to a statement from US Central Command, the search has transitioned into a recovery effort.
The names of the SEALs have not been disclosed, pending ongoing family notifications.
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Ships along with aircraft from the United States, Japan, as well as Spain conducted a continuous search across an expanse exceeding 21,000 square miles, as reported by the military.
Support in the search efforts was provided by the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, the University of San Diego – Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research.
Unflagged Ship Ferrying Iranian Weapons to Yemen Rebels
Officials reported that the operation on January 11 was directed at an unflagged vessel transporting illicit Iranian-made weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
During the boarding of the ship, one of the SEALs encountered difficulties in the rough seas, prompting a teammate to attempt a rescue.
The commandos initiated the operation from the USS Lewis B. Puller, a mobile sea base, with support from drones and helicopters.
They boarded small special operations combat craft operated by naval special warfare personnel to reach the
In the operation, the US Navy and its allies confiscated Iranian-made weapons, encompassing cruise and ballistic missile components, such as propulsion and guidance devices, warheads, and air defense parts.
This marks the latest interception of weapon shipments destined for rebels involved in attacks that pose a threat to global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The seized missile components are believed to be of types used in those attacks.
To ensure safety, the US Navy decided to sink the ship carrying the weapons, detaining its 14 crew members.