Washington, Sept. 18 (ANI): An audacious attack on the U. S. Embassy in Yemen on Wednesday demonstrates a renewed offensive capability by al Qaeda and may be the group''s premier operation for 2008, U. S. intelligence officials and specialists on the terrorist group said.

According to the Washington Times, over the past two years, the organization has regrouped in Pakistan´s tribal region and trained recruits from Western nations and Africa.

The identities of the attackers in the Yemeni capital of San''a were not clear, although a U. S. counter-terrorism official said some of the assailants wore Yemeni military uniforms. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the nature of his work.

Sixteen people, including six of the assailants, died as the gunmen tried to break through the heavily guarded embassy''s multiple defenses.

Witnesses to the attack heard multiple explosions. SABA, the Yemeni state news agency, quoted an unidentified Interior Ministry official as saying that two suicide car bombs had been detonated. Victims included six Yemeni guards and four civilians, including Yemenis lining up for visas, the news agency said. At least seven civilians were wounded. (ANI)