- Members of U.S. Navy SEAL Team 3 conducted a raid off the coast of Somalia to intercept a ship carrying illegal Iranian weapons to Yemen.
- During the operation, Navy SEAL Nathan Gage Ingram slipped and fell into the ocean while aboard the ship.
- Navy SEAL Christopher J. Chambers jumped in to save him, but both men drowned due to their heavy equipment, officials said.
Under the darkness of night, on the choppy high seas off the coast of Somalia, members of U.S. Navy SEAL Team 3 begin boarding an unflagged ship carrying illegal Iranian weapons to Yemen.
As Navy Special Warfare Pilot 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram climbed a ladder to begin boarding the boat, he slipped and fell into a gap created by waves between the ship and a SEAL fighter. As he sank, Naval Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers jumped into the gap and tried to save him, according to U.S. officials familiar with the incident.
It was an instinctive action, honed by years of training, of one teammate going to the aid of another. But officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the January 11 attack, said the weight of their body armor, weapons and heavy equipment caused the two SEALs to plunge into the depths of the Arabian Sea and die. .
Navy confirms the death of two seals who went missing during a night mission in the Arabian Sea
The mission comes as interdiction of arms to Yemen takes on new urgency. The Yemen-based Houthis have carried out missile and drone attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. And US retaliatory strikes have so far failed to deter them.
Naval Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers and Naval Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram went missing during a night boarding mission off the coast of Somalia earlier this month. The rescue mission was called off and the SEAL is now considered deceased. (US Navy)
An 11-day search and rescue effort to find the two SEALs was called off Sunday for recovery efforts. And on Monday, the Navy released their names after their families were notified.
“Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and outstanding ability,” said Capt. Blake Cheney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, which oversees SEAL Team 3. “This loss is a new one. “This is devastating for South Wales, our families and special operations.” To the community and to the entire country. ”
At the White House, President Joe Biden said in a statement: “Jill and I are saddened by the tragic deaths of two of America's finest Navy SEALs who were lost at sea while on a mission off the coast of East Africa last week. I am mourning.'' He said SEALs “are our nation's finest representatives who pledge their lives to protect their fellow Americans. Our hearts go out to the families, loved ones, and friends who grieve for these two brave Americans.” “I feel sorry for the sailors,” he said.
The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is investigating the incident. The investigation is expected to look into whether the SEALs were properly equipped and trained for the mission, whether procedures were followed, and decisions regarding the timing and authorization of the raid, including weather and sea conditions. has been done.
Officials said the special forces were launched from the mobile maritime base USS Lewis B. Puller and were supported by drones and helicopters. They loaded onto a small special operations combat boat driven by a Navy special warfare crew and arrived at the boat. It's the kind of boarding that SEALs routinely train for, and illegal arms transfers from Iran to the Yemen-based Houthis persist, especially as rebels continue to target commercial shipping in the region. This is a concern.
Search for missing Navy SEAL in Arabian Sea called off
The team aboard the dhow was confronted by more than a dozen crew members. Central Command said they ultimately seized an array of Iranian weapons, including cruise and ballistic missile components such as propulsion and guidance systems and warheads, as well as air defense components.
The raid was the latest seizure of weapons shipments destined for rebel groups by the U.S. Navy and its allies, which have launched a series of attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that threaten global trade. The missile parts seized included types that may have been used in these attacks.
Chambers and Ingram, who were assigned to the West Coast-based SEAL unit, were “extraordinary warriors, valued teammates, and dear friends to many within the Naval Special Warfare community,” Cheney said. he said.
Chambers, 37, of Maryland, joined the Navy in 2012 and graduated from SEAL training in 2014. His awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat “C” and three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Ingram, 27, of Texas, enlisted in 2019 and graduated from SEAL training in 2021.
