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.
The Gulf of Aden Security Review will resume on Monday, November 30.
Yemen: Al Houthi militants reportedly send reinforcements to al Bayda governorate; al Houthis allegedly attack Hadi government–aligned forces in Ma’rib governorate; Saudi-led coalition forces claim to intercept al Houthi drone launched toward kingdom
Horn of Africa: Mozambican forces reportedly recapture town from IS-linked militants in Cabo Delgado province; suspected al Shabaab improvised explosive device causes several casualties near Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi claimed on November 20 that al Houthi reinforcements arrived at Qaniya front in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed attacking al Houthi militants in al Bayda governorate in mid-October.[1]
Al Houthi militants allegedly attacked Hadi government–aligned forces in al Abdiyah district in northern Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on November 20. Hadi government–aligned forces claimed halting an al Houthi advance toward Ma’rib governorate’s al Makhdara front in early November.[2]
The Saudi-led coalition announced on November 18 that it intercepted an al Houthi drone launched toward an unspecified area in Saudi Arabia. Coalition forces previously claimed intercepting an al Houthi drone targeting the kingdom in mid-November.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Mozambican troops reportedly recaptured Muidumbe village in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province from Islamic State–linked militants on November 19. A police officer claimed troops killed sixteen insurgents and destroyed some of their weapons. Islamic State–linked militants claimed capturing Muidumbe in late October.[4]
Al Shabaab militants detonated a roadside improvised explosive device at a security checkpoint in Lafole town outside of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on November 19. The blast killed at least three soldiers and injured several others, including civilians. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide vest attack that targeted a police academy in Mogadishu’s Hamar Jajab district on November 17.[5]
[1] “After the arrival of large reinforcements, the Houthi militia launched a suicide attack on army positions south of Marib,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, November 20, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/185742; and Sarah Gordon and Hannah Kuperman, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – October 19, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at American Enterprise Institute, October 19, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-october-19-2020.
[2] “After the arrival of large reinforcements, the Houthi militia launched a suicide attack on army positions south of Marib,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, November 20, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/185742; and Hannah Kuperman and Luc Sasseville, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 9, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at American Enterprise Institute, November 9, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-9-2020.
[3] “The coalition announces the destruction of a drone launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia,” 7adramout, November 18, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/aden24/7528727/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A3%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9.html; and Hannah Kuperman and Luc Sasseville, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at American Enterprise Institute, November 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-13-2020.
[4] “Mozambique Police Say Northern Village, Site of Reported Beheadings, Retaken from Insurgents,” Reuters, November 20, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mozambique-insurgency/mozambique-police-say-northern-village-site-of-reported-beheadings-retaken-from-insurgents-idUSKBN2800UD; “ISCAP Claims Killing 21 Christian ‘Militiamen’ and Burning Church in Butembo (DR Congo), Capturing Muidumbe (Mozambique),” SITE Intelligence Group, November 1, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Hannah Kuperman and Luc Sasseville, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 2, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, November 2, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-2-2020.
[5] “3 Soldiers Dead, Several People Hurt in Somalia Blast,” Anadolu Agency, November 18, 2020, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/3-soldiers-dead-several-people-hurt-in-somalia-blast/2049064; and Hannah Kuperman and Luc Sasseville, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, November 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-18-2020.
