overseas security advisory council title of report, date u.s. embassy sana’a attack september 17,...

Overseas Security Advisory Council

Title of Report, Date

U.S. Embassy Sana’a Attack

September 17, 2008

U.S. Embassy Sana’a Attack

September 17, 2008

The contents of this (U) presentation in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, or the United States Government, except as

otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). The presentation was compiled from various open sources and (U) embassy reporting.


Incident/Attack Overview• Approximately 9:15 a.m.: Two suicide vehicle bombs

explode outside U.S. Embassy Sana’a

• 16 are reported dead– Including six Yemeni soldiers,

four civilians and six attackers

• Islamic Jihad of Yemen has claimed the attack– Yemeni and U.S. officials have

said the attack bears the hallmarks of al-Qa’ida

• It is the second strike on U.S. Embassy Sana’a in six months, and at least the fourth attack on the embassy since 2003


Attack Details• Shortly before 9:15 a.m., attackers opened fire

outside the security gate at U.S. Embassy Sana’a; press has speculated that the gunfire targeted the guards at the entrance

• Following the gunfire, the first of two suicide vehicles detonated; according to press, the second exploded after it passed an outer gate to the embassy, but did not breach the protective barrier

• Further gunfire is also said to have followed the explosions (a gun battle was said to continue for 15 minutes)

• Militants were said by witnesses to be dressed as policemen; at least one of the attackers was also reportedly wearing an explosive belt

Overseas Security Advisory CouncilClaim/Determination of

Responsibility• Islamic Jihad of Yemen claimed the attack; press has reported that a day previously, it threatened attacks on U.S., British, Saudi and United Arab Emirates missions if jailed members of the group were not released– The authenticity of this claim has not been verified– According to press, Islamic Jihad in Yemen has been involved

in previous attacks on Western targets in Yemen, including a U.S. hospital

• Yemeni and U.S. officials, however, have pointed to al-Qa’ida– The sophistication of the attack, number of attackers, complex

nature (using small arms and multiple suicide vehicles), and attackers disguised as security forces are noted al-Qa’ida hallmarks

– There are several al-Qa’ida-affiliated networks in Yemen, including al-Qa’ida Yemen (AQY)


Yemen Government Response• Hundreds of Yemeni troops surrounded

the embassy and blocked nearby roads


• U.S. Embassy Sana’a issued a Warden Message on September 17, which can be found at https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=90586

• U.S. Embassy Sana’a had ordered the departure of non-essential personnel after attacks in March and April, but that order was lifted in August

• At that time, embassy employees were not authorized to travel outside Sana’a, and were advised to avoid hotels, restaurants and tourist areas

U.S. Embassy Response


Terrorism in Yemen• Yemen, Osama bin Laden’s ancestral home, has long been a target

of al-Qa’ida and a haven for militants– Despite significant recent anti-terrorism efforts and

cooperation with the U.S., it has been difficult for Yemeni forces to restrain militants

• There are several groups in Yemen with varying affiliations to al-Qaida that have claimed attacks in recent years– Reported most often in the press is al’Qa’ida Yemen (AQY), led by

Nasir al-Wahayshi, the former personal secretary of al-Qa’ida leader Osama bin Laden

– Please see OSAC’s report detailing AQY and attacks in April and May at https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=84070

• Other militant groups, some with reported connections to al-Qaida, have claimed responsibility for attacks on Belgian and Spanish tourists, among others


• August 2008: Yemeni security forces announced the arrest of 30 suspected al-Qa’ida members and the dismantling of an extremist cell – This led to concern in neighboring

countries, especially Saudi Arabia, that the group may also have targeted western interests outside Yemen

• April 2008: A rocket attack targeted a residential compound used by a western oil company in the Hadda neighborhood

• April 2008: Suspected extremists fired two mortar rounds toward the Yemen Customs Authority and the Italian Embassy; no one was hurt

Recent Noteworthy Terrorism Incidents

August Arrests


Recent Noteworthy Terrorism Incidents• March 2008: A schoolgirl and a

policeman were killed in a mortar attack aimed at U.S. Embassy Sana’a

– The mortars, which had been fired toward the U.S. Embassy, instead hit a nearby school

– AQY claimed responsibility

• July 2007: Eight Spanish tourists were killed in a VBIED attack

– The attack was attributed to AQY

VBIED Attack on Tourists


Noteworthy Past Terrorist Incidents• 2006: 23 al-Qaida suspects

escaped from a Yemen prison

• 2006: Attempted bombings of two oil facilities

• 2006: Eight Spanish tourists killed by a vehicle bomb

• 2000: Bombing of USS Cole in southern port of Aden, which killed 17 U.S. sailors Oil Attack, USS Cole


Resources/For Further Information

• OSAC has published multiple reports on Yemen, which can be found on OSAC’s country page for Yemen:

https://www.osac.gov/Regions/country.cfm?country=1013

• For further questions, please contact OSAC’s Middle East Team:

– Brent Heminger (571.345.7747)– Mary Hackman (571.345.2221)

overseas security advisory council title of report, date u.s. embassy sana’a attack september 17,...

Documents