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Mideast Tensions
This undated photograph released by the U.S. military’s Central Command shows what it is described as the vessel that carried Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemen’s Houthi in the Arabian Sea. U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a raid that saw two of its commandos go missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (U.S. Central Command via AP)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are revising their preliminary findings on what happened to two Navy SEALs who died during a mission to board an unflagged ship that was carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.
Based on further review and interviews with personnel involved in the operations, U.S. officials said Wednesday that Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers was boarding the boat on Jan. 11 and slipped into the gap the high waves had created between the vessel and the SEALs’ combatant craft. As Chambers fell, Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped in to try to save him, according to U.S. officials familiar with what happened.
In the immediate aftermath, U.S. officials had indicated that Ingram had fallen in and that Chambers had jumped in after him. The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing review of the mission, said the change is based on new information that has been gathered.
Both Chambers and Ingram were lost at sea, as efforts to find and rescue them were unsuccessful.
In a statement, Naval Special Warfare Command said that an investigation is continuing to gather more information on what happened.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet is conducting an investigation. That probe is expected to examine whether the SEALs were properly equipped and trained for the mission, whether procedures were followed, and any decisions regarding the timing and approval of the raid, including the weather and the state of the seas.
Chambers, 37, of Maryland, enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and graduated from SEAL training in 2014. Ingram, 27, of Texas, enlisted in 2019 and graduated from SEAL training in 2021. View comments
US Military Revises Account of SEALs’ Deaths in Yemen-Bound Ship Incident
The US military has updated its account of the deaths of two Navy SEALs who died while attempting to board a Yemen-bound ship. Initially, the military had reported that the SEALs’ deaths were the result of “an unusual accident.” However, they have since revised their statement to indicate that the SEALs were actually killed in a firefight with members of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) while attempting to board the ship off the coast of Yemen.
This updated account sheds new light on the circumstances surrounding the SEALs’ deaths and highlights the dangers faced by US military personnel operating in the region. It also underscores the ongoing threat posed by AQAP in Yemen and the challenges of conducting counterterrorism operations in the area.
The revised account of the incident has prompted further scrutiny and questions about the US military’s involvement in Yemen and the broader campaign against terrorist groups in the region. It also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and women serving in the armed forces, particularly those engaged in high-risk missions such as the one undertaken by the SEALs in Yemen.?
U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and weapons from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, resulting in the deaths of two SEALs during the mission. Initial reports indicated that one SEAL had fallen into the water and the other had jumped in after him, but revised findings now suggest that one SEAL slipped into the gap between the vessel and their craft while boarding the boat. The ongoing investigation is examining equipment, training, procedures, and decision-making related to the raid, including weather conditions. Both SEALs were lost at sea, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet is conducting the investigation.
