The deadly US raid in Yemen that resulted in the deaths of more than two dozen civilians and one US Navy SEAL has not yielded any significant intelligence so far, NBC News reported on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT
The raid in Yemen that left a Navy SEAL dead may not have produced significant intelligence
The report seems to contradict statements from the White House and Pentagon about the success of the raid.
Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump, taking off from the White House on February 1. Trump flew to Dover Air Force base in Delaware to pay his respects to Chief Special Warfare Operator William "Ryan" Owens, who was killed during a raid in Yemen.
The report, based on interviews with senior US officials, seems to contradict White House statements that the January raid was a success. Earlier this month, White House press secretary Sean Spicer called the raid "a successful operation by all standards," and said "anyone who undermines the success of that raid owes an apology" to William Owens, the Navy SEAL chief who was killed in action.
"We gathered an unbelievable amount of intelligence that will prevent the potential deaths or attacks on American soil,"Spicer has said. Pentagon officials have also made similar assertions.
The officials interviewed by NBC News are not aware of any such intelligence, however. According to the report, the only example of intelligence provided by the military was "an old bomb-making video that was of no current value."
ADVERTISEMENT
The report further obscures the murky picture surrounding the raid, which Spicer said will be investigated by the Department of Defense. Owens' father, Bill, publicly questioned the motivation for the raid in an interview with The Miami Herald published on Sunday, and warned the government not to "hide behind my son's death to prevent an investigation.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
ADVERTISEMENT