Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Possible Houthi gunmen assassinate military officer in Ma’rib; Houthi militants attempt to assassinate military commander in Aden with VBIED; first flight departs Sana’a since 2016

Somalia: Biden authorizes the redeployment of SOF to Somalia and Pentagon targeting of al Shabaab leaders; Burundian ATMIS forces abandon base in southern Somalia to consolidate forces in response to al Shabaab’s May 3 raid

Yemen Security Brief:

Possible Houthi gunmen assassinated a 159^th Infantry Brigade staff officer in Ma’rib City, central Yemen, on May 14.[i]

Likely Houthi militants detonated a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) targeting the head of Joint Operations in the 4^th Military Region in Mualla district, Aden city, southern Yemen on May 15.[ii] The VBIED did not kill the officer, who was riding in an armored car.[iii] Local officials in Aden said the explosives used in the attack were less powerful than the explosives in previous attacks targeting military officers. The Yemeni government accused the Houthis of working with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula for the attack.[iv]

A Yemenia Airways flight to Amman, Jordan, on May 16 was the first flight from Sana’a International Airport since 2016.[v] Reopening Sana’a International Airport was one of the stipulations under the UN-brokered truce that began in early April.

Somalia Security Brief:

US President Joe Biden authorized the redeployment of special operations forces to Somalia in early May and granted the Pentagon standing authority to target nearly a dozen al Shabaab leaders.[vi] The order allows for the redeployment of “hundreds” of special force personnel according to anonymous US officials. Former President Donald Trump withdrew US forces from Somalia in January 2021 and adopted an over-the-horizon posture, operating from Kenya and Djibouti. US forces historically gave training, advisory, and logistical support to the Somali National Army Danab special forces. The leak comes less than 24 hours after Somalia elected a new president more than one year after the original election date.[vii]

Burundian ATMIS forces abandoned a forward operating base near Gululei, Balad district, Middle Shabelle, southern Somalia, on May 14.[viii] Al Shabaab immediately took over and looted the base. The troops redeployed to reinforce bases near Bal’ad, Jowhar, and two other towns in Middle Shabelle.[ix] The move is reportedly to prevent al Shabaab from overrunning another base in Middle Shabelle. Al Shabaab overran El Baraf base, Middle Shabelle, on May 3.[x]