Sean Spicer claims that Houthi rebel assault on Saudi frigate was an Iranian attack on a US warship


Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked a Saudi frigate; White House spokesman Sean Spicer falsely claimed that this was Iranian forces attacking a US Naval ship and thus an act of war; no one from the White House press corps corrected him or followed up.

The White House Press corps wanted to know what being put "on notice" entailed, and Spicer responded by claiming that Iran's government took actions against a U.S. naval vessel, which would be an act of war. "I think General Flynn was really clear yesterday that Iran has violated the Joint Resolution that Iran's additional hostile actions that it took against our navy vessel are ones that we are very clear are not going to sit by and take," he said.

Pentagon Spokesman Christopher Sherwood confirmed to The Intercept that the attack was in fact conducted against a Saudi warship, and that the Pentagon suspects Houthi rebels. "It was a Saudi ship – it was actually a frigate" said Sherwood. "It was [conducted by] suspected Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen."

Press Secretary Sean Spicer Falsely Accuses Iran of Attacking U.S. Navy Vessel, an Act of War [Zaid Jilani and Alex Emmons/The Intercept]