US searches for SEALs lost at sea during mission to seize Iran-made warheads

The U.S. Central Command announced a search-and-rescue mission for two U.S. Navy SEALs lost at sea during an operation in the Arabian Sea on Thursday, Jan. 11. The SEALs went missing during a ship-boarding mission to confiscate Iranian-made missile warheads and other weapons parts.

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According to The Washington Post, one Navy SEAL slipped off a ladder while trying to board the dhow, a trading vessel sometimes used by smugglers to carry illicit weapons. The dhow, lacking proper identification, was believed to be carrying military weapons.

Another Navy SEAL dove into the water to save their team member after witnessing the fall. Both SEALs were swept away by intense waves and have not been publicly identified.

As rescue efforts unfolded, the remaining Navy SEALs continued their mission, seizing advanced weaponry from the ship. The U.S. military revealed on Tuesday, Jan. 15, that the mission dealt a blow to Yemen militants’ resupply of weapons in the Red Sea.

Photos released by the U.S. Central Command show the seized equipment, including a cruise missile with a turbojet engine, propulsion and guidance devices, and weapons parts used for air defense. The U.S. investigation indicated that the seized missile and parts were likely intended for use by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, potentially violating international law and a U.N. resolution.

Following the seizure, U.S. officials sank the vessel, deeming it unsafe.

All 14 crew members were taken into U.S. custody.

The operation, assisted by helicopters and drones, took place near Somalia. However, the origin of the ship that carried Iran-made weapons remains unclear.

The U.S. military’s announcement followed Iran’s ballistic missile attack in Iraq and Syria. The attack resulted in a missile striking near a U.S. Consulate in Iraq.

With Iran’s continued aggression, attacks by Yemen militants, and U.S.-led retaliatory strikes against Houthi rebels, tensions are escalating in the region. U.S. officials fear that if Houthi rebels obtain more weapons from Iran, they will use them in further attacks, potentially affecting commercial ships and global trade in the Red Sea.