News/Commentary

CENTCOM issues critical update on the ‘status’ of two missing Navy SEALS

January 22, 2024 | | Print Article

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that its search and rescue mission for two missing Navy SEALS has come to a sad end.

“We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased,” CENTCOM stated in a press release. “The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and we are now conducting recovery operations.”

“During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate our missing teammates,” it continued. “Search assistance was also provided by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support.”

“Out of respect for the families, no further information will be released at this time,” CENTCOM added.

As BizPac Review reported, the SEALS went missing following a night mission off the coast of Somalia. High waves knocked one of the frogmen into the water and, following protocol, another SEAL jumped in after him.

ADVERTISEMENT

“One fell into the water while trying to climb into the small boat, known as a dhow. Another SEAL jumped in after him, in line with his training and protocols, a U.S. defense official said. A drone overhead, which was intended for the mission, captured footage of the SEALs falling into the water, the official said,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

“Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, have launched dozens of attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is fighting a war against Hamas,” the outlet reported. “In retaliation, the U.S. led strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen last week.”

“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example,” USCENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla said. “Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time.”

Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), a former Green Beret, said his “heart is broken” by the news.

“My heart is broken,” he told “Fox & Friends” on Monday morning, “but we will also make sure that those Gold Star families are taken care of.”

ADVERTISEMENT

The lawmaker expressed his “frustration” with the Biden administration for putting the SEALS in that dangerous position “rather than this administration admitting that it was wrong on Iran, reversing course on Iran, and drying up the cash.”

“You have to dry up the cash in Tehran,” he stated. “We have to go back to maximum pressure. This administration has got to reverse course on its Iran policy or we’re going to lose more service members.”

Melissa Fine
Latest posts by Melissa Fine (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles