Gulf of Aden Security Review

The October 10, 2023 edition of the Gulf of Aden Security Review will be the final edition. Future updates on the conflict in Yemen will be found in CTP’s Iran Updates, while future updates on the conflict in Somalia will be covered in CTP’s Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update.

Yemen: Houthi supreme leader congratulates Hamas for attack against Israel; Houthi spokesperson condemns UAE’s statement on Hamas attack on Israel; Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials in Yemen give speeches to fundraise for Hamas and Palestine

Somalia: Somali and international partner airstrike targets al Shabaab strongholds in south-central Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

Houthi supreme leader Abdul Malik al Houthi released a speech on October 10 in which he congratulated Hamas for its terrorist attack against Israel on October 7.[i] Abdul Malik threatened that the Houthi movement would respond with drones, missiles, and other military options if the United States intervened in the Gaza War. Houthi also said that the statements of the “normalizing” Arab states reveals the “extent of their loyalty to the Israeli enemy.” He concluded by adding that the Houthis are coordinating their responses with Iran’s Axis of Resistance, and remain in “continuing coordination.”

Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdul Salam condemned the UAE’s statement on the Hamas attack on Israel on October 9.[ii] Abdul Salam said that the Palestinians and the “Ummah” will not tolerate “any party that” covers Israel’s actions. He claimed that the UAE is “openly involved” in massacres against the Palestinians. The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep dissatisfaction” with the reports that Hamas targeted civilians in a statement on October 8.[iii] The UAE also called for broader regional calm and said it would work with international partners to reduce tensions.

Moaz Abu Shamala, Hamas’s Yemen-based leader, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Yemen-based leader Ahmed Baraka gave speeches on October 7 during a march in support of the Hamas attack into Israel.[iv] Both men called for financial support for Hamas and Palestine.

Somalia Security Brief

Somali security forces with international partner support launched airstrikes targeting three al Shabaab bases in the three al Shabaab–controlled regional capitals in the Middle Jubba region, south-central Somalia, on October 10.[v] Somali officials said the strikes destroyed bases and weapon stores in Bu’ale, Jilib, and Sakow.[vi]

[i] SABA Houthi, “Text of the Revolutionary Leader’s speech on the latest developments in the Palestinian arena,” October 10, 2023, https://saba.ye/ar/news3270850.htm.

[ii] Mohammed Abdul Salam, Twitter, October 9, 2023, https://twitter.com/abdusalamsalah/status/1711397422272766084.

[iii] UAE Foreign Ministry, “In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the protection of civilians and stressed that the immediate priority is to end the violence and protect civilians,” October 8, 2023, https://www.mofa.gov.ae/ar-ae/mediahub/news/2023/10/8/8-10-2023-uae-population.

[iv] 26September News, “Yemeni mobilization to support the Palestinian people,” October 7, 2023, https://26sep.net/index.php/local/65471-2023-10-07-14-41-54.

[v] Khadar Aweys, “Operations against Al-Shabaab terrorists carried out in the Middle Jubba region,” SONNA, October 10, 2023, https://sonna.so/en/operations-against-al-shabaab-terrorists-carried-out-in-the-middle-jubba-region.

[vi] Guuleed Muuse, “Al-Shabaab weapons depots in the Middle Juba region were attacked,” Caasimada, October 10, 2023, https://www.caasimada.net/xarumihii-keydka-hubka-al-shabaab-ee-j-dhexe-oo-la-weeraray.