The October 6, 2002, Attack on the French Oil Tanker Limburg

The attack on the French oil tanker Limburg occurred on October 6, 2002, off the coast of Yemen. The tanker was en route to the port of Mina al-Dabah on the Arabian Sea to collect a shipment of crude oil. As it approached its destination, a small boat laden with explosives rammed into the ship’s starboard side. This resulted in a massive explosion and fire that breached the tanker’s hull, causing substantial damage and spilling thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Aden.

The attack killed a Bulgarian crew member and injured several others. The explosion also created an environmental disaster due to the large oil spill, which affected the surrounding waters.

Initially, there was confusion about the cause of the explosion. However, investigations revealed that the attack was orchestrated by Al-Qaeda as part of a coordinated campaign against Western economic interests, particularly targeting oil and maritime operations. This assault was similar in nature to the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden. The strike on the Limburg was intended to disrupt global oil markets and underline the vulnerability of maritime oil transport.

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