Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the attack targeting the American destroyer “USS Cole” in Yemen in 2000 was among the reasons that prompted him to launch military operations against Iran. This came as part of his justifications for the broad military campaign that Washington says it is conducting in cooperation with Israel against Tehran.
According to a report published by The New York Times, Trump cited a “long history of attacks” that he accused Iran of supporting against the United States and its allies during a speech announcing the start of military operations.
Trump referred to a video clip that he said shows Tehran was “likely involved” in the attack that targeted the American destroyer while it was docked in the port of Aden, southern Yemen, on October 12/ 2000.
The bombing of the USS Cole is considered one of the most prominent attacks targeting U.S. forces prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks; it was carried out by Al-Qaeda suicide bombers using a motorized boat rigged with explosives that approached the ship while it was docked in the port.
The attack at the time resulted in the death of 17 American sailors and the injury of dozens more, leading to extensive U.S. investigations into the parties involved in the operation.
