Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: U.S. airstrike kills three AQAP militants in Hadramawt; Ansar al Sharia targets al Houthis in Abyan  

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks two government bases in Mogadishu; security officials in Somaliland seize illegal weapons

Yemen Security Brief

• A suspected U.S. airstrike targeted and killed three al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in al Mukalla, Hadramawt on June 9. The identity of the killed militants remains unknown, although unverified reporting identified one of the casualties as a “leading” figure.[1]

• Ansar al Sharia detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting the al Houthi movement in Shaqra, Abyan on June 10. The attack reportedly killed 15 al Houthis. Ansar al Sharia claimed credit for the attack via Twitter.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab allegedly opened gunfire on two government bases in the Yaqshid district of Mogadishu on June 8. Residents reported that the militants were using RPGs and machine guns.[3]

• Security officials arrested eight individuals and seized illegal arms and explosive devices from Awdal region, Somaliland, on June 9. Among the weapons were two mortar launchers, IED circuits, and anti-tank mines. Reports do not indicate if the individuals arrested are suspected of being al Shabaab members or clan militants.[4]