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MANAMA, Bahrain, Feb. 9, 2006 – The Dutch-led coalition of maritime Combined Task Force 150 is supporting the efforts of the government of Yemen to recapture suspected terrorists who escaped from a Yemeni prison Feb 5.
Escapees include Jamal Ahmed Badawi, mastermind of the bomb attack on USS Cole in 2000, and Fawaz Al-Rabeei, one of those responsible for attacking the French tanker Limburg in 2002. Ships from the task force are monitoring international waters along the coast of Yemen to either block possible maritime escape routes or to capture the suspected terrorists if they attempt escape. CTF 150 routinely patrols the international waters of the Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea conducting maritime security operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. These operations help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations. They deny international terrorists use of water as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. CTF 150 is one of three coalition maritime task forces that conduct maritime security operations under Navy Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh, Combined Maritime Forces Component Commander, based in Bahrain. He also commands CTF 58 in the northern Arabian Gulf and CTF 152, which is responsible for patrolling the central and southern Arabian Gulf. (Based on a news release from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.)
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