What was the date of the USS Cole attack?

The USS Cole was attacked on October 12, 2000, while it was refueling in the port of Aden, Yemen. This attack was carried out by terrorists associated with al-Qaeda, who used a small boat laden with explosives to ram into the ship, resulting in significant loss of life and damage.

The date of this incident is significant in the context of U.S. naval history as it highlighted vulnerabilities faced by the military and emphasized the need for improved security measures in ports and during operations. The attack on the USS Cole preceded the more widely recognized September 11, 2001 attacks, marking it as one of the key events in the buildup to a series of conflicts related to terrorism and the response to extremist groups in the following years.