Ex-NSC Spokesman Refutes Claim That Obama Administration OKed US Raid in Yemen

The US military operation against al-Qaeda militants in Yemen carried out over the weekend had never been under consideration by the administration of former president Barack Obama, former National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said via Twitter.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier on Thursday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer stated that the operation was first planned by the Obama administration, approved by the Defense Department on December 19 and recommended to move ahead to the National Security Council.

"Except it was misleading," Price stated, adding that the specific operation was never considered by the Obama administration for approval.

Except it was misleading. The specific operation in question was never presented to or considered by the Obama Admin for approval. https://t.co/v0KwnhhRj9

— Ned Price (@nedprice) 2 февраля 2017 г.

​US Special Operations Forces killed 14 al-Qaeda militants in the course of the operation, according to the White House. During the operation, the terrorists killed US Navy SEAL William Owens and injured several other servicemen.

On Wednesday, US Central Command said in a press release that civilians may have been killed during the operation.