US mourns tragic loss of Navy SEALs in Arabian Sea during mission: Who were they?

In a devastating incident during a nighttime ship-boarding mission in the Arabian Sea, two Navy SEALs, identified as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, tragically went missing. The mission involved a raid on a boat carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons bound for Yemen.

Chambers lost his life while heroically attempting to save Ingram. As Ingram climbed the ladder onto the boat, he slipped into the gap between the vessel and the SEALs' combatant craft created by the rough waves. Without hesitation, Chambers jumped into the gap to rescue his comrade, and both disappeared into the water.

Captain Blake L Chaney, commander of the Naval Special Warfare Group 1, expressed profound sorrow, stating, “Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities. This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation.”

President Joe Biden also mourned the loss, acknowledging the sacrifice of the SEALs. He stated, “Jill and I are mourning the tragic deaths of two of America’s finest — Navy SEALs who were lost at sea while executing a mission off the coast of East Africa last week.” Biden highlighted their commitment to protecting fellow Americans, expressing condolences to the grieving families, loved ones, friends, and shipmates.

An investigation into the incident is underway, led by the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The probe aims to assess the equipment and training of the SEALs for the mission, ensuring adherence to proper procedures, and examining factors such as sea conditions and weather at the time of the raid.

The commandos launched from the USS Lewis B Puller, a mobile sea base, backed by drones and helicopters. Trained for such boardings, the SEALs used special operations combat craft to reach the targeted boat. Despite extensive search efforts over 10 days, both SEALs were declared dead by the US Central Command.

Captain Chaney paid tribute to Chambers and Ingram, describing them as "exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends" within the Naval Special Warfare community.