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: Saudi-led coalition claims to intercept al Houthi drones targeting Saudi Arabia; al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clash in Ma’rib governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab ambushes Kenyan police in Mandera County; al Shabaab attacks AMISOM base in Hiraan region; al Shabaab attacks AMISOM base in Middle Shabelle region; Somali oppositionists agree to postpone protests over delayed federal presidential elections
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept two al Houthi explosive-laden drones targeting Khamis Mushait city in southern Saudi Arabia’s Asir region on February 26. The coalition forces previously claimed to intercept an al Houthi explosive-laden drone launched toward Khamis Mushait city on February 18.[i]
Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed in Sirwah district and Hailan front in central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on February 26. Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces previously clashed in Sirwah district on February 25.[ii]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab ambushed a convoy of Kenyan police officers in northeastern Kenya’s Mandera County on February 25. Suspected al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device in Mandera County in late January. [iii]
Al Shabaab attacked a Djiboutian African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base in Jalalaqsi district in southern Somalia’s Hiraan region on February 25. Al Shabaab attacked an AMISOM base in Halgan town on February 21.[iv]
Al Shabaab attacked a Burundian AMISOM base near Balad district in central Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region on February 25. Al Shabaab ambushed Burundian troops in Middle Shabelle region’s Jowhar in mid-February.[v]
Somali Opposition leaders of the Council of Presidential Candidates agreed to postpone protests over the delayed federal presidential elections until early March fter meeting with Somalia’s Prime Minister on February 25. Protestors and Somali National Army forces clashed in the Somali capital over delayed elections on February 19.[vi]
[i] “The Saudi-Emirati coalition destroyed two Houthi drones and says they are targeting civilians,” Al Jazeera, February 26, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2021/2/26/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d8%af%d9%85%d8%b1-%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%d8%a9; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 19, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 19, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-19-2021.
[ii] “The Houthis target Marib, Yemen, and the Security Council condemns the escalation,” El Watan, February 26, 2021, https://www.elwatannews.com/news/details/5337410; “Violent battles and the army claimed dozens of militia members this morning in Marib,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, February 26, 2021, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/195850; “Large Houthi groups surrender to a National Army point in Sirwah after a campaign of kidnappings of deserters from the fronts in Marib,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, February 25, 2021, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/195779; and “Coalition fighters launch a series of raids on Marib Governorate,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, February 25, 2021, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/195768.
[iii] “Kenyan police officers attacked in Mandera,” Somalimemo, February 25, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8191/Ciidamo-katirsan-Booliska-Kenya-oo-lagu-weeraray-Mandheera; and Rahma Bayrakdar and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – January 29, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, January 29, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-january-29-2021; and “Shabaab Claims Wounding District Police Chief and Deputy in Bomb Blast in Capital, Attacking Multiple AMISOM Bases in Single Day,” SITE Intelligence Group, February 25, 2021, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[iv] “Kenyan police officers attacked in Mandera,” Somalimemo, February 25, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8191/Ciidamo-katirsan-Booliska-Kenya-oo-lagu-weeraray-Mandheera; and “Shabaab Claims Wounding District Police Chief and Deputy in Bomb Blast in Capital, Attacking Multiple AMISOM Bases in Single Day,” SITE Intelligence Group, February 25, 2021, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 22, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 22, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-22-2021.
[v] “Kenyan police officers attacked in Mandera,” Somalimemo, February 25, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8191/Ciidamo-katirsan-Booliska-Kenya-oo-lagu-weeraray-Mandheera; and “Shabaab Claims Wounding District Police Chief and Deputy in Bomb Blast in Capital, Attacking Multiple AMISOM Bases in Single Day,” SITE Intelligence Group, February 25, 2021, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 12, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 12, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-12-2021.
[vi] “Somalia’s politicians strike a last-minute deal, but fears of conflict remain high,” Washington Post, February 26, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/somalia-protest-last-minute-deal/2021/02/26/dd9d5bc0-777c-11eb-9489-8f7dacd51e75_story.html; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 19, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 19, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-19-2021.
