Two US Navy SEALs went missing during raid to seize Iranian weapons being sent to Houthis
Two US Navy SEALs who went missing in the Arabian Gulf had been taking part in an operation to seize Iranian weapons bound for Yemen, it has emerged.
US Central Command Navy forces conducted a night-time seizure of a dhow, a type of small ship.
The SEALs, who were operating from the USS Lewis B Puller, an expeditionary mobile base vessel, boarded the dhow near the coast of Somalia, with helicopter and UAV support.
They seized Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missiles components, including propulsion, guidance and warheads for Houthi medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as air defence components.
Centcom posted on X that initial analysis indicated they were the same type of weapons the group had been using to attack shipping in the Red Sea.
Centcom said it was the first seizure of lethal, Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis since November 2023 - when the Houthi attacks started.
The supply, direct or indirect, sale or transfer of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen is a violation of UN Security Resolution 2216 and international law.
Centcom commander General Michael Kurilla said it was clear Iran had continued to ship "advanced lethal aid" to the Houthis.
"This is yet another example of how Iran actively sows instability throughout the region in direct violation of UN Security Resolution 2216 and International law," he said.
"We will continue to work with regional and international partners to expose and interdict these efforts, and ultimately to re-establish freedom of navigation."
However, Centcom has now confirmed that the two US Navy SEALs who had earlier been reported as lost at sea had been taking part in the operation.
Gen Kurilla said an "exhaustive search" was being conducted to find the pair.
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