US warns of Al Qaeda attack off Yemen coast

The US has warned of a possible Al-Qaeda attack by sea off the coast of Yemen and has alerted ships, including those from India, and maritime vehicles plying in the region.

"All vessels transiting the waters in the vicinity of Yemen are urged to operate at a heightened state of readiness, maintain strict 24-hour visual and radar watches, and regularly report their position, course and speed to the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation, Dubai)," said the advisory issued by the US Department of Transportation.A large number of Indian ships ply on this route.

The March 10 DoT advisory,has been posted on the website of the US Office of Naval Intelligence. "Information suggests that al-Qaida remains interested in maritime attacks in the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden along the coast of Yemen," it said.

Not sure, how the al Qaeda would carry out this kind of maritime attack, the DoT advisory said it may be similar in nature to the attacks against the USS COLE in October 2000 and the M/V LIMBURG in October 2002 where a small to mid-size boat laden with explosives was detonated. As many as 17 US sailors were killed in the October 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden.

In 2002, the French-registered supertanker Limburg was damaged in the Gulf of Aden. Both are attributed to an Al-Qaeda attack. "Other more sophisticated methods of attack could include missiles or projectiles. Although the time and location of such an attack are unknown, ships in the Red Sea, Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden along the coast of Yemen are at the greatest risk of becoming targets of such an attack," the DoT said.

Noting that vessels are at greatest risk in areas of restricted manoeuvrability, it said: "Merchant vessels are requested to report any suspicious activity to the UKMTO Dubai."