Two U.S. Navy sailors, who multiple outlets are reporting are Navy SEALs, are missing at sea off the coast of Somalia after reportedly conducting a boarding mission Thursday night.
U.S. Navy personnel leave a military tent set up at the U.S. Navy base in Manama, Bahrain, on ... [+]
U.S. Central Command confirmed in a Friday statement that two “Navy sailors” were reported missing at sea after “conducting operations off the coast of Somalia” Thursday night, and that search and rescue operations were underway—but have not confirmed any additional details.
But on Saturday, ABC News first reported the sailors were Navy SEALs who fell into the water while trying to board a vessel in the Gulf of Aden, and other outlets have since confirmed those details, citing anonymous U.S. officials.
The Associated Press reported one SEAL fell into the water, prompting another SEAL to jump in after them—per Navy protocol.
The Gulf of Aden has been a focal point of Navy activity amid the ongoing conflict with Houthi militants in Yemen, but both the Washington Post and the Associated Press reported the SEAL mission was not related to ongoing efforts to provide protection to commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Forbes has contacted the U.S. Central Command for comment.
It remains unclear what type of vessel the SEALs were trying to board and why, although the Washington Post reported the U.S. routinely conducts anti-piracy “interdiction” missions that involve boarding vessels in order to ensure vessels have proper credentials and are not transporting illicit material.
Tensions in the Red Sea and the waters around Yemen—which is across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia—have remained elevated as Iran-backed Houthi militants have continued to launch attacks on commercial shipping vessels passing through the area, a campaign the Houthis have said is meant to support Palestinians in Gaza. Tensions have come to a head in recent days after the U.S. and U.K. launched airstrikes in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen, prompting Houthi leaders to vow retribution.
The U.S. carried out another attack last night, with the Houthi militia threatening to respond with “strong and effective response,” according to Reuters.