Search ends for Navy SEALs lost at sea on mission to seize Iranian arms

The U.S. military has ended its search for two Navy SEALs lost at sea during a mission to intercept Iranian weapons bound for militants in Yemen, officials said on Sunday, underscoring the risks to the United States of spiraling violence across the Middle East amid Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. Central Command said the two elite service members had not been located during a 10-day search and rescue operation.

“Their status has been changed to deceased,” the command said in a statement. “We are now conducting recovery operations."

The SEALs disappeared during a dangerous nighttime operation that occurred on Jan. 11 in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Somalia, an area known for piracy and weapons smuggling. Troops were dispatched from a floating base, the USS Lewis B. Puller, to inspect a vessel suspected of carrying illicit arms. As they attempted to board, one of the SEALs slipped from a ladder and the second, having witnessed their comrade fall into the water, dove in to help, officials have said. Both were swept away by the powerful swells.