“We have a responsibility to learn more about how this operation was planned and executed," Ruben Gallego said. | AP Photo House Dem wants briefing on Yemen raid

A Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee is asking for an “urgent briefing” on the SEAL Team Six raid in Yemen this past weekend that resulted in the deaths of a U.S. service member and civilians on the ground, possibly including an 8-year-old girl.

Approving the raid was one of the first life-or-death decisions for President Donald Trump — and Democrats are raising questions about what may have gone wrong.


Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who served in a Marine combat unit in Iraq, sent a letter Thursday to House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) requesting a briefing from the Trump administration “on the planning and execution of this mission as well as on the decision-making process that preceded its approval.”

“We have a responsibility to learn more about how this operation was planned and executed and whether lessons can be gleaned that could save American lives in the future,” Gallego wrote. “Crucially, a briefing will also help to shed light on the new administration’s approval process for Special Forces operations of this nature.”

The raid was designed to yield intelligence on operations being planned by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

But the militants were somehow tipped off, according to The New York Times, possibly by the sound of U.S. drones — leading to a 50-minute firefight.

One U.S. service member, Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens, was killed, and three others were wounded in the attack, which killed an estimated 14 militants, according to a White House statement.

The U.S. Central Command acknowledged Wednesday there likely were also civilian casualties in the firefight and that the casualties “may include children.”

At the White House, press secretary Sean Spicer said the raid had been approved in December by the Pentagon, and that Obama administration recommended greenlighting the operation.

But the next moonless night, which the military sought for the raid, was not until after Trump had been sworn into office. The new president ultimately approved the mission, according to the White House.

“This was a very, very well thought-out and executed effort,” Spicer said.

He added that Trump approved the mission after it was recommended by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, and after a dinner meeting with Mattis, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford and White House officials — including Jared Kushner and chief strategist Steve Bannon.

At the Pentagon, spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis on Thursday disputed reports that the mission was compromised as the SEALs approached the compound.

“We have no information to suggest this was compromised,” Davis told reporters. “It does not match with reality.”

“This was an operation that for reasons of the calendar had a date when it was most optimally conducted,” Davis said. “That date happened to fall after Jan. 20. That was when we sought the authority for and received the authority for proceeding with it.”

House Armed Services staffers have been provided information on the raid, according to a spokesman.

"The committee was briefed ahead of the operation," the spokesman said. "A briefing was received on the outcome. The committee receives regular briefings on operations of this nature."

A spokesman for Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on the committee, said Smith “supports our members conducting strong oversight over military operations, as it is always our practice and responsibility to do.”

“It’s important to have members of the committee fully informed about this incident,” said the spokesman, Barron YoungSmith.

Rachael Bade and Heather Caygle contributed to this report.