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: Unidentified militants attempt to assassinate military commander in southern Yemen; AQAP warns civilians against collaborating with security forces in southern Yemen
Somalia: SNA deploys additional forces in central Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Unidentified militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting Support and Reinforcement Brigades commander Brigadier General Saleh al Sayyed north of Aden city, southern Yemen, on June 29.[i] The IED killed four people and wounded another twelve.[ii] The attack wounded Sayyed slightly.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) issued a statement on June 26 warning tribespeople in Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, against cooperating with security forces.[iii] AQAP issued the statement after Yemeni government– and Southern Transitional Council–backed security forces formed a joint operations room for counter-AQAP operations in the governorate.[iv]
Somalia Security Brief:
The Somali National Army (SNA) deployed additional forces to Mataban, Beledweyne district, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on June 28, to support ongoing operations targeting al Shabaab.[v] The additional forces will secure and demine the Beledweyne-Mataban road. Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device targeting the Hiraan regional governor’s convoy traveling on the Beledweyne-Mataban road on June 27.[vi]
[i] SMA News, “A car bomb targeted the convoy of a security director for Lahij in front of Khormaksar Education in the capital, Aden,” June 29, 2022, https://smanews.org/%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%ac%d9%84/286808/.
[ii] Hadramawt, “Civilian victims of the Khor Maksar bombing,” June 29, 2022, http://www.7adramout.net/adenghad/7877846/%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B6%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%83%D8%B3%D8%B1.html; SMA News, “Urgent: In an initial toll… 4 martyrs and 12 wounded in the terrorist bombing that targeted the convoy of a security director for Lahij in Khormaksar in the capital, Aden,” June 29, 2022, https://smanews.org/%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%ac%d9%84/286821/.
[iii] Hadramawt, “Al Qaeda sends a threatening message to the tribes of Abyan,” June 28, 2022, http://www.7adramout.net/yafa-news/7877380/%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86.html.
[iv] Christopher Muth and Max Ryabinin, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 24, 2022,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-24-2022.
[v] Caasimada, “Somali government sends more troops to Hiraan,” June 28, 2022, https://www.caasimada.net/df-soomaaliya-oo-ciidamo-horleh-u-dirtay-gobolka-hiiraan-ujeedka/; Radio Risaala, “Somali government to send more troops to Hiraan region,” June 28, 2022, https://radiorisaala.com/dowladda-somalia-oo-ciidamo-horleh-u-dirtay-howlgalka-ka-socda-gobolka-hiiraan/.
[vi] Goobjoog News, “Four killed, three injured, including two journaluists as vehicle hits landmine in Mataban,” June 28, 2022, https://goobjoog.com/english/four-killed-three-injured-including-2-journalists-as-vehicle-hits-landmine-in-mataban/.
