Determined Response

Gen. Tommy R. Franks, USCINCCENT, conducted Operation DETERMINED RESPONSE after the terrorist attack on the destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden on 12 October 2000.

An explosion on the Arleigh Burke-class USS Cole (DDG 67) occurred at about 11:18 AM local time in Yemen [not 12:15 PM as previously reported -- local time in Yemen is seven hours later than Eastern Daylight Time]. USS Cole had completed mooring operations at 9:30 AM local time. The threat level had been raised to threat condition [THREATCON] Bravo when the Cole pulled into the harbor, and they had armed people up on deck. Refueling operations commenced at approximately 10:30 AM local time and were ongoing at the time of the terrorist attack. Initial reports were that the boat that came up alongside the Cole and exploded was part of the mooring operation. However, subsequently it appeared that the boat may have been launched from the shore and may have had no connection with the refueling operation. The explosion caused a 20-foot by 40-foot gash in the port (left) side of the ship. The explosion caused Cole to lose power and disabled all onboard communications assets. Seventeen sailors died in the explosion and more than 35 were injured. All the dead have been recovered.