Gulf of Aden Security Review

A regularly updated review of both Yemen and the Horn of Africa covering topics related to security, governance, and militant activity.

Yemen: AQAP releases chant praising al Shabaab; Saudi-led coalition claims to intercept al Houthi explosive-laden drones targeting Saudi Arabia; al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clash in Ma’rib governorate

Horn of Africa: Suspected al Shabaab militants kill district official in Mogadishu; Kenyan police arrest two people attempting to smuggle weapons in Kenya; US Secretary of Defense orders investigations into January 2020 Manda Bay attack

Yemen Security Brief:

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a chant praising al Shabaab fighters for their determination and strength on April 14. AQAP released a similar chant in September 2020 lauding al Qaeda’s affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen.[i]

The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept five al Houthi ballistic missiles and four explosive-laden drones targeting Jizan city in southern Saudi Arabia’s Jizan region on April 14. The al Houthi movement claimed to launch 11 drones at Saudi Aramco oil facilities and an air defense system in Jizan city the same day.[ii]

Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed along the Kassara and al Masjah fronts in central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on April 15. Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed in Ma’rib governorate’s Majzar district on April 14.[iii] 

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Suspected al Shabaab militants killed a district official in Warta Nabada district in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on April 15. Suspected al Shabaab gunmen attacked a police station in Warta Nabada district on April 13.[iv]  

Kenyan police arrested two people in Dagoretti in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on April 14 for smuggling weapons they intended to use for terrorist activity. Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device targeting Kenyan military personnel in southeastern Kenya’s Lamu County in early April.[v]

The US Secretary of Defense ordered on April 12 additional investigations into al Shabaab’s January 2020 Manda Bay attack in Kenya. The investigations aim to explore security vulnerabilities leading up to the attack, which killed three US citizens.[vi]  


[i] “AQAP-produced Chant Praises Shabaab Fighters,” SITE Intelligence Group, April 15, 2021, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.

[ii] “Ansar Allah: We attacked sensitive targets in Saudi Arabia,” Al Bawaba, April 15, 2021, https://www.albawaba.com/ar/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-1422468.

[iii] “Fierce battles in Marib and the death of a number of militia members,” Akhbar Yemen, April 15, 2021, https://www.yemenakhbar.com/2770866; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 14, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 14, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-14-2021.

[iv] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Department chairman killed in Sinai, opposition leaders change zone,” Somalimemo, April 15, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14535/Guddoomiye-Waaxeed-lagu-dilay-Siinaay-iyo-Hoggaamiyaasha-Mucaaradka-oo-aag-bedelasho-sameeyay; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 14, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 14, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-14-2021.

[v] “Mother, daughter arrested after sniper rifle, other weapons, found in Racecourse, Nairobi,” The Standard, April 15, 2021, https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nairobi/article/2001409735/mother-daughter-arrested-after-weapons-found-in-racecourse-nairobi; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 5, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 5, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-5-2021.

[vi] John Kirby, “Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby on 4-Star Reviewer Appointment on Manda Bay Investigation,” US Department of Defense, April 12, 2021, https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2570030/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-john-f-kirby-on-4-star-reviewer-appoint/; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – January 21, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, January 2020, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-january-21-2020.

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