(ConservativeSense.com) – US Navy SEALS who went missing in the Gulf of Aden were pursuing a ship taking weapons to Somalia. The SEALs were based on board the USS Lewis B. Puller, and recognized a passing ship as one with a reputation for illegal smuggling. This prompted them to approach the vessel and take it over, but in close proximity to the ship – which did not display a national flag – the SEALs were reportedly knocked from their small craft by high winds and disappeared.
A US Defense Department official said components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles were on board, and were en route to Somalia. The official also said that the incident was not related to Operation Prosperity Guardian – an international mission to protect vessels in the area from attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels, who have launched missiles in revenge for Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
The search for the missing Navy SEALs is ongoing and the Defense Department said conditions are good, the sea is warm, and SEALs are trained to handle these and similar situations.
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels continue their attacks against US and Western vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding region. The area is a primary shipping route and severe disruption could result in supply chain shortages, experts have warned.
In a recent incident, on January 15, Houthis fired a ballistic missile at a US-owned cargo ship sailing near the cost of Yemen. Eagle Bulk Shipping, which owns the vessel, said it was carrying steel products and was hit when located about 100 miles from the shore in the Gulf of Aden.
In response to the ongoing Houthi attacks in the area, US and UK forces launched dozens of airstrikes across Yemen over the weekend of January 13. The strikes targeted airports and military bases near the Yemeni capital Sanaa, as well as Yemen’s main Red Sea port Hodeidah, and other military sites along the coast. Houthis promised bloody revenge against the West.
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