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 assassinates Security Belt Forces Abyan commander; local sources claim STC-backed forces kill AQAP senior leader in Abyan; AQAP releases five UN officials
Somalia: SNA forces seize contested villages in south-central Somalia; SNA forces clear al Shabaab bases in north-central Somalia with international partner air support; al Shabaab detonates IED targeting civilians; al Shabaab suicide bomber targets district governor
Yemen Security Brief
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighters detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) assassinating the commander of Security Belt Forces in Abyan in Wadi al Radf, Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate, on August 10.[i]
Local sources claim Southern Transitional Council (STC)—backed forces killed AQAP senior leader in Wadi al Jin, Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate, on August 10.[ii]
AQAP released five United Nations officials from custody on August 11.[iii] AQAP kidnapped the five officials in February 2022.
Somalia Security Brief
The Somali National Army (SNA) seized several villages in El Dheere district, Galgudud region and Adan Yabal district, Middle Shabelle region, central Somalia, on August 9.[iv]
SNA and local forces cleared three al Shabaab bases with international partner aerial support near Gal Hareeri, El Bur district, Galgudud region, north-central Somalia, on August 10.[v] Al Shabaab claimed that US airstrikes killed a child and injured eight civilians.[vi]
Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a civilian vehicle near Shalambood, Marka district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on August 9.[vii] The explosion killed at least six people and injured 12 others.[viii]
An al Shabaab suicide vest bomber targeted the Jalalaqsi district governor in Jalalaqsi, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on August 10.[ix] The explosion reportedly killed at least five people but failed to kill the governor.[x]
[i]SITE, “AQAP Claims Killing Security Belt Forces Commander for Abyan”, August 10, 2023, https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/aqap-claims-killing-security-belt-forces-commander-for-abyan.html#ges:searchword%3DArabian%2BPeninsula%2Bbranch%26searchphrase%3Dexact%26orderby%3Dnewest%26page%3D1.
[ii]Al Montasaf,” The killing of the emir of al-Qaeda and ISIS in Wadi al-Jin in Mudiya Abyan”, August 10, https://almontasaf.net/news90617.html.
[iii] United Nations, "Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Yemen”, August 11, 2023, https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2023-08-11/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-yemen.
[iv] Halbeeg, “SNA Recaptures Bases from Al-Shabaab,” August 9, 2023, https://en.halbeeg.com/2023/08/09/sna-recaptures-bases-from-al-shabaab/.
[v] SONNA, “Successful Somali National Army Operation in Galhareeri District: a Decisive Blow to al-Shabaab,” August 10, 2023, https://sonna.so/en/successful-somali-national-army-operation-in-galhareeri-district-a-decisive-blow-to-al-shabaab/.
[vi] Radio al Furqaan, “Photos: The People Injured in the US Bombing in Galhareeri,” August 10, 2023, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2023/08/sawirro-dadkii-ku-dhaawacmey-duqeymihii-maraykanka-ee-galhareeri/.
[vii] SONNA, “At Least 6 Dead, 12 Injured in Passenger Bus Explosion in Lower Shabelle,” August 9, 2023, https://sonna.so/en/at-least-6-dead-12-injured-in-passenger-bus-explosion-in-lower-shabelle/.
[viii] Shabelle Media, “A Car Carrying Civilians was Bombed in Sh/ Lower Region,” August 9, 2023, https://shabellemedia.com/gaari-ay-la-socdeen-dad-shacab-ah-oo-qarax-lagula-eegtay-gobolka-shabeelaha-hoose/.
[ix] HarunMaruf, Twitter, August 11, 2023, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1689635215663366144?s=20.
[x] Hiiraan Online, “Governor Nur Dheere Narrowly Escaped a Suicide Bombing in Jalalaqsi District,” August 11, 2023, https://www.hiiraan.com/news/2023/Aug/wararka_maanta10-185063.htm?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter.
