::::::Clearly, OPSEC thinks it has proof.  Just because they didn't prove it to somebody who won't believe it no matter what, doesn't mean they made "a claim, without proof".  It's POV-ish in the extreme to use that verbiage here in the article.  And it's redundant.  We already state that it's a "claim", meaning an assertion that is not accepted by all.  That's enough.  -