US military ends rescue search for Navy SEALs in Arabian Sea

A US Navy helicopter conducts search operations. Pic/AP

The 10-day search to rescue two Navy SEALs lost in the Arabian Sea during a mission to board a ship and confiscate Iranian-made weapons has been ended and the sailors are now considered deceased, the US military said on Sunday. In a statement, US Central Command said the search has now been changed to a recovery effort. The names of the SEALs have not been released as family notifications continue.

Ships and aircraft from the US, Japan and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles, the military said, with assistance from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Centre, the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego - Scripts Institute of Oceanography and the Office of Naval Research. "We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honour their sacrifice and example," said General Erik Kurilla, head of US Central Command.

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