Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: AQAP kidnaps international aid workers; Houthi drone targets southern Saudi Arabia; Houthis arrest Norwegian AQAP fighter

Horn of Africa: Kenyan Police arrest two al Shabaab suspects in northeastern Kenya; SNA secures village in southern Somalia; al Shabaab assassinates police officer in central Somalia; al Shabaab kills security guard in central Somalia

Yemen Security Brief:

Likely al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants kidnapped two Doctors Without Borders employees near al ‘Abr and al Khasha’a districts, Hadramawt governorate, eastern Yemen, on March 5.[i] The militants abducted a German national and a Mexican national as they traveled to Seiyun city in Hadramawt governorate. This is AQAP’s third kidnapping of international aid workers since February 12.[ii]

The Houthis launched at least one explosives-laden drone targeting southern Saudi Arabia on March 7.[iii] Saudi air defenses intercepted the drones. The Saudi-led coalition retaliated against the Houthis with airstrikes in Sana’a city, Yemen, on March 7.[iv]

The Houthi movement arrested Norwegian AQAP member Anders Cameroon Ostensvig Dale in Sana’a city, Yemen, on March 7.[v] Dale, who joined AQAP around 2011, reportedly manufactured explosives for AQAP.

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Kenyan Police arrested two suspected al Shabbab militants in Garissa County, northeastern Kenya, on March 4.[vi] Kenyan Police seized AK-47 guns belonging to the suspects.

The Somali National Army secured Madax Marodi village from al Shabaab militants in Qoriyoley district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on March 4.[vii]

Al Shabaab assassinated a Hirshabelle police officer in Howlwadag neighborhood, Beledweyne, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on March 5.[viii] Hirshabelle security forces intercepted the fighters and killed two al Shabaab militants.

Al Shabaab killed a Hirshabelle security guard near the Hirshabelle Presidential Palace in Jowhar, Middle Shebelle region, central Somalia, on March 6.[ix]