SANA’A, Yemen (AP) – Yemen’s foreign minister says the attack on the U.S. embassy has the markings of al-Qaeda, but investigators are still determining who was behind the deadly assault.

Abubakr al-Qirbi also told The Associated Press on Saturday that Yemen needs more assistance from the international community to beef up its security forces to help the country fight terrorism.

Wednesday’s attack on the gate of the U.S. Embassy by gunmen and vehicles packed with explosives killed 17 people, including an 18-year-old American woman and six militants.

Yemen is a key partner in the U.S.-led war on terror but has also been an al-Qaeda stronghold for years.

Al-Qirbi says the attack has not created tension between Yemen and the U.S.