BREAKING: Navy SEALS who went missing off coast of Somalia pronounced dead

The two US Navy SEALs who went missing off the coast of Somalia during a mission to intercept Iranian warheads have been pronounced deceased by US officials on Sunday.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement from its commander General Michael Erik Kurilla on Sunday and said:

"We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and we are now conducting recovery operations." 

"During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate our missing teammates. Search assistance was also provided by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support. Out of respect for the families, no further information will be released at this time," the statement continues.

“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” said General Kurilla.

The two Navy SEALs had been searching for a suspected Iranian weapons shipment that was set to go to Yemen. During the nighttime mission, one SEAL was knocked off a boat into the rough seas and another went in after him.