Mauritania's army reported losing contact with a military boat carrying seven soldiers while on a rescue operation off the coast of Nouakchott.

According to a military statement, the patrol boat was dispatched late on January 20 to assist the fast patrol vessel Maksem Boubacar, which had become disabled about 30 nautical miles northwest of the Port of Friendship after its propellers became entangled in fishing nets.

Communication with the rescue boat was lost around 11:00 p.m. local time.

The Coast Guard vessel Arkin successfully rescued the disabled patrol boat Maksem Boubacar and towed it back to Nouakchott, with all its crew reported safe. However, the fate of the military boat involved in the rescue operation and its seven personnel remains unknown.

In response, Mauritania's Air Force, Navy, and Marines were placed on high alert and launched search operations, which were still ongoing as of Wednesday evening.