2 US Navy sailors missing off coast of Somalia

This handout file photo courtesy of US Navy, Marines load into a V-22 Osprey on the flight deck of the USS Makin Island (LHD8) as they conduct maritime operations off the coast of Somalia in support of Operation Octave Quartz (OOQ) on December 22, 2020. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael J. Lieberknecht / US NAVY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / US Navy/ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael J. Lieberknecht” – NO MARKETING – NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Two US Navy sailors went missing on Thursday evening while conducting operations off the coast of Somalia, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Friday.

“On the evening of January 11, two U.S. Navy Sailors were reported missing at sea while conducting operations off the coast of Somalia,” the CENTCOM said.

“Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors,” it said, adding: “For operational security purposes, we will not release additional information until the personnel recovery operation is complete.”

“Out of respect for the families affected, we will not release further information on the missing personnel at this time,” the CENTCOM said.

“The sailors were forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet (C5F) area of operations supporting a wide variety of missions,” it added.