Cika wannan jumla: A watan Disamba na 2005, Saleh ya bayyana a cikin gidan talabijin na kasa cewa kawai sa hannun sa ne ya hana Amurka mamaye tashar jiragen ruwa ta kudancin Aden bayan 2000
USS "Cole" fashewa, yana cewa "Ta hanyar sa'a, na kasance a can. Idan ban kasance ba, Aden zai kasance a lokacin da akwai jiragen ruwa guda takwas na Amurka a ƙofar tashar jiragen ruwa. " Koyaya, bayanan daga Kwamitin Sojoji na Majalisar Dattawan Amurka sun bayyana cewa babu wasu jiragen ruwa na yaƙi da ke kusa a lokacin.