A group of four senators from both parties has asked President Donald Trump's administration for a classified briefing into the recent raid in Yemen that resulted in the death of a Navy SEAL.
According to the Washington Examiner, Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Mike Lee (Utah), and Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy (Connecticut) and Al Franken (Minnesota) teamed up to write a letter to several high-ranking people in the administration.
"We write today with serious concerns about U.S. policy in Yemen and to urgently request a classified briefing regarding our actions and objectives there," the senators wrote to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and acting director of National Intelligence Michael Dempsey.
"The situation in Yemen remains complex, with an ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis — further complicated by U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's bombing campaign there — as well as a growing terrorist threat from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula."
The Jan. 28 raid reportedly targeted Qassim al-Rimi, the head of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. He was not at the location, but the team of SEALs was met with heavy resistance. Aside from the death of Senior Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, three SEALs were wounded and an Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft had to be destroyed after it crash landed.
The New York Times reported this week that Yemen has withdrawn permission for the U.S. to conduct anti-terror raids within its borders, although Yemen later said the report was not true.
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