After Two Weeks Missing, U.S. Confirms two SEALs Missing in Gulf of Aden as Deceased

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — After an extensive 10-day search, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has officially declared that two members of its special forces team, the SEALs, who went missing in the waters of the Gulf of Aden on January 11, are now confirmed deceased.

“It is with great sadness that we declare that, after 10 days of searching for the two missing members of the U.S. Navy SEALs, we have been unable to locate them, and their status has been changed to deceased,” stated CENTCOM in an official statement.

The two identified members of the special forces are Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram.

Both SEALs were based in the special forces unit on the West Coast of the United States.

According to CENTCOM, forces from Japan, Spain, and the United States conducted an extensive search covering an area of 21,000 square miles in their efforts to locate the missing SEALs.

The two SEALs went missing during an operation to apprehend and inspect a suspected boat transporting illicit weapons from Iran to Yemen.

They fell into the sea due to rough waves during the operation.

The U.S. military reported that they successfully detained the involved boat and discovered various guided missile components of Iranian origin on board.

The crew of the vessel was apprehended, and the U.S. military took action to sink the implicated boat.

The United States maintains small military units in Somalia to address threats from the militant group al-Shabaab, which has been launching attacks against the government of Somalia.

In addition to providing training to Somali security forces, U.S. military personnel have also carried out attacks on the positions and infrastructure of the involved militant group.

The deaths of the two U.S. military members occurred as the country and its allies bombed positions of the Houthi armed group in response to their attacks on merchant ships sailing from the Red Sea to ports in Israel.

The Houthi armed group in Yemen claimed their attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea were in retaliation for Israel’s aggressive military actions against the Palestinian population, resulting in the reported death of 25,000 people.

 Despite facing gunfire and bombing from American and allied fighter jets, the armed group, supported by Iran, continues its assaults on merchant ships intending to sail to Israel. — DSA

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