Tragic Loss of Navy Personnel at Sea

Two members of the U.S. Navy were tragically declared deceased after an extensive search mission off the coast of Somalia. The mission, which lasted for 10 days, has transitioned from a search and rescue operation to a recovery effort, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. The individuals have not been publicly identified in order to respect the privacy of their families. During the mission, one of the Navy personnel reportedly fell into the water while attempting to board a vessel in rough seas, with the second member diving in thereafter as per protocol. The raid, which occurred on January 11, resulted in the interception of a vessel, referred to as a dhow, carrying "Iranian advanced conventional weapons." General Michael Erik Kurilla expressed condolences, stating, "We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example." The extensive search efforts covered over 21,000 miles of the surface, involving personnel from the U.S., Japan, and Spain, along with support from various institutions including the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, the University of California, San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research's Oceanographic Support wing.