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: Popular resistance fighters clash with al Houthi militants in Taiz; tribesmen battle al Houthis in Ma’rib; tribal militants attack al Houthi positions in Shabwah
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab assassinates four in Mogadishu; al Shabaab releases video mourning foreign fighter; Kenyan government announces al Shabaab defections in Mombasa, Coast Province
Yemen Security Brief
- Popular resistance fighters clashed with al Houthi militants in Taiz city, Taiz, from April 25-27. The anti-al Houthi forces reportedly received support from Saudi airstrikes and have taken control of several districts within the city.[1]
- Al Houthi militants continued clashes with tribesmen in Sirwah, Ma’rib on April 25 and 26. An estimated 72 people were killed over the two days of fighting.[2]
- Tribal militants attacked al Houthi forces in Ataq city, Shabwah, on April 26. The tribesmen reportedly killed eight al Houthi militants.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
- Al Shabaab assassinated two Mogadishu city council members on April 25, a former Somali member of parliament on April 25, and a police official on April 26 in Mogadishu. Al Shabaab claimed credit for all four killings and vowed to target more government officials.[4]
- Al Shabaab released a video mourning the death of one of its fighter on April 25. The video is the fifth in a series titled “In Remembrance” and features al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamed Rage referring to the militant as a foreign fighter.[5]
- The Kenyan government announced that six al Shabaab members had surrendered to the government in Mombasa, Coast Province, on April 25. The surrender comes after the government extended the initial 10-day amnesty offer for an additional 10 days. It was revealed that the six were mainly youths from Mombasa who had traveled to Somalia to receive training from al Shabaab.[6]
[1] “Raids in Taiz as fighting continues,” Barakish, April 27, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=322582
“Yemen militia makes gains against Houthis in central city,” Reuters, April 26, 2015. Available: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/26/us-yemen-security-idUSKBN0NH06Z20150426
[2] “Battles with al Houthis continue in Ma’rib,” al Arabiya, April 26, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/yemen/2015/04/26/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-45-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1-17-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8.html
“Heavy fighting between tribes and Houthis in Ma’rib,” al Arab, April 26, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alarab.qa/story/534244/%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8
“Continued fighting in Ma’rib,” The New Khalij, April 25, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.thenewkhalij.com/ar/node/13335
[3] “Killing of eight al Houthis in attack in southern Yemen,” al Sabeel, April 26, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.assabeel.net/arab-and-world/item/105667-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-8-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%84%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86
[4] Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar, “Somalia’s al Shabaab kills three officials, former lawmaker in Mogadishu,” Reuters, April 26. Available: http://af.reuters.com/article/somaliaNews/idAFL8N0XN0CF20150426
[5] “Shabaab Fighters Mourn Slain Trainer in fifth Episode of ‘In Remembrance’,” SITE, April 25. Available: https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Latest-Multimedia-from-Shabaab-al-Mujahideen-Movement/shabaab-fighters-mourn-slain-trainer-in-fifth-episode-of-in-remembrance.html
[6] “Six Al-Shabaab returnees surrender in Mombasa,” Hiiraan Online, April 25. Available: http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2015/Apr/99297/six_al_shabaab_returnees_surrender_in_mombasa.aspx
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