Personnel from the US Navy recovered Iranian-made missile warheads and other components during a ship-boarding mission near Somalia last week.
The operation marked the first time the US Navy seized advanced Iranian-made weapons systems since 2019.
In a statement, the Pentagon said that the operation disrupted the weapons resupply of militants in Yemen, but at the cost of two US Navy SEAL operators who went missing due to poor nighttime visibility and rough seas. The SEALs boarded the vessel, described by US defense officials as a dhow lacking proper identification, origin, and destination, amid suspicions that there were arms on board.
One of the operators slipped from a ladder while attempting to climb aboard the dhow, while a second dove in to help before both of them were swept away by the sea, officials added.
Neither of the missing SEALs has been publicly identified.
The Washington Post reported that a massive search-and-rescue operation has been underway in the Arabian Sea since Thursday last week (January 11).
What US Operators Found Aboard
While rescue operations were underway, other operators continued with the mission and took 14 of the boat's crew members into custody before scuttling the vessel.
"Disposition of the 14 dhow crew members is being determined in accordance with international law," the Pentagon said in its statement.
Aside from Iranian-made warheads, other seized items include propulsion and guidance systems, as well as air defense components. According to an "initial analysis" made by US defense officials, the weapons were similar to the ones the Houthis have used to target ships on the Red Sea. This meant that Iran and its allies could be accused of violating international law and a related United Nations resolution regarding activity in Yemen.
The Houthis have initially said that their actions were in protest of Israel's military campaign in Gaza against Hamas.
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