American Navy Seals missing off Somalia’s coastline declared dead

WASHINGTON - The Central Command has declared missing two American Navy Seals dead, following their disappearance off Somalia’s coastline, leading to a ten-day search, which has been unfruitful according to officials.

The 10-day mission has shifted from search and rescue to recovery, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. The two went missing last week triggering an intensive search along the deadly coastline in the East Africa region.

"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," it said.

After they went missing, the Central Command did not give their identity, a tradition within the army where the family is reached directly for robust clearance within the forces. The loss has been declared tragic.

Two U.S. defense officials said one of the SEALs had tried to board the vessel amid rough seas and fell into the water. The second dived in after the first, as is protocol, the officials said as reported by NBC.

The vessel, known as a dhow, was carrying "Iranian advanced conventional weapons" as the raid took place on Jan. 11, CENTCOM said Sunday.

“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example," Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in CENTCOM's statement. "Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the Special Operations community during this time."

Somalia’s coastline includes the Gulf of Aden, the Guardafui Channel, and the Indian Ocean. U.S. military officials, who did not give the exact location of the incident, said personnel from the U.S., Japan, and Spain searched more than 21,000 miles of surface.

For many years, Somalia’s coastline has been rendered unsafe following cases of piracy, but after intensive surveillance, the coastline has been somehow safe. The US army and Somali forces have been patrolling the region.

GAROWE ONLINE