Two operatives of the US Navy SEALs, a special forces combat unit of the Navy, are missing following a night-time covert operation conducted to stop the supply of lethal weapons from Iran to the Houthi rebels, the US Central Command said.
The US Central Command or CENTCOM is one of the 11 combat commands and operates in the Middle East region. Last week on January 11, the US Navy SEALs, operating from USS Lewis B Puller, an expeditionary sea base for multipurpose maritime operations.
US Navy SEALs Special Op
The Navy SEALs, supported by helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) successfully docked the vessel near the coast of Somalia in the international water in the Arabian Sea and seized Iranian-made ballistic missiles, cruise missile components, propulsion, guidance, and warheads for Houthi medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), as well as air defence associated components.
The initial analysis by the US says that the components and weapons seized by the Navy SEALs have been used by the Houthis to conduct drone, and missile strikes on merchant ships in the Red Sea.
The inference also suggests a direct link between Iran and the Houthi strikes in the Red Sea. Security and defence experts fear that a spillover event may take place if the attacks continue and Iran and its proxies come into confrontation with US-led allies in this vital sea trade route.
This is the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons (ACW) to the Houthis since the beginning of Houthi attacks against merchant ships in November 2023, the CENTCOM said.
The interdiction also constitutes the first seizure of advanced Iranian-manufactured ballistic missile and cruise missile components by the US Navy since November 2019.
“It is clear that Iran continues shipment of advanced lethal aid to the Houthis. This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of UN Security Resolution 2216 and international law,” said US CENTCOM Commander, General Michael Erik Kurilla.
Missing US Navy SEALs
Two U.S. Navy SEALs previously reported as lost at sea were directly involved in this operation. “We are conducting an exhaustive search for our missing teammates,” the US CENTCOM Commander said.
Nighttime ship boardings by boat, carried out in pitch black, are some of the most difficult missions that a SEAL can undertake and require constant training according to a retired SEAL commander
“You have the the risk of of your boat capsizing in close proximity to larger vessels, you have to establish a solid ladder point, you have to climb a ladder at night over the open ocean between two ships, they’re smashing into each other, and then get on board,” said Eric Oehlerich, an ABC News contributor.
“And then your problem starts with what you’re going to do it with whomever is on board that boat,” he added.
Oehlerich said the risk to SEALs undertaking these missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin increases during this time of year when ocean waves are especially high.
“In the wintertime, the sea state is typically eight to 12 feet,” said Oehlerich. “The horizon is flat, so 8-12 feet is eight feet above the flat horizon, and then eight feet, it’s like a 16 foot wave.”
The 14 mariners aboard the dhow were taken off the vessel and are in U.S. custody though their future status remains to be determined. After they were taken off the dhow, the vessel was deemed unsafe and sunk by U.S. naval forces.
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