Al Qaeda in Yemen could strike at shipping, according to a naval chief.

Captain William Nault, chief of staff of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), told Reuters the terrorist group remains a powerful force.

Al Qaeda still controls the Arabian Sea towns of Zinjibar and Shaqra, near the Bab-al-Mandeb strait which tankers use.

Nault said the group had a "stated capability and intent to conduct a maritime terrorist attack".

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