Crewmembers aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft fly above East Africa during a mission to deliver supplies to Somalia, on Jan. 2, 2024. According to reports on Saturday, Jan. 13, search and rescue efforts are underway off the coast of Somalia for two Navy SEALs who were discovered missing. (Allison Payne/U.S. Air Force)

Search and rescue operations are underway for two U.S. sailors discovered missing during operations off the coast of Somalia. 

The sailors went missing Thursday evening, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Friday. 

CENTCOM did not name the ship the sailors were aboard or provide other details, citing operation security concerns and respect for families involved. The sailors were forward-deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, according to the statement. 

The two sailors are Navy SEALs who fell into the Gulf of Aden during a nighttime boarding mission, ABC News and CNN reported Saturday, citing unnamed defense officials.

A spokesman for U.S. Central Command declined to comment on the reports when contacted over the phone.