On October 12, 2000, the USS Cole, a U.S. Navy destroyer, was attacked by suicide bombers in the port of Aden, Yemen. The bombers, affiliated with al-Qaeda, detonated a small boat laden with explosives next to the ship, killing 17 U.S. sailors and injuring 39 others. The attack highlighted the vulnerability of U.S. naval forces to terrorist attacks in the Middle East. The bombing was a precursor to the 9/11 attacks and led to greater U.S. efforts to combat terrorism in the region. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack, which intensified U.S. military operations in Yemen and the broader Arabian Peninsula.