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: AQAP claims killing al Houthi commander in al Bayda governorate; Hadhrami Elite Forces shoot live ammunition at protestors in Hadramawt governorate; Hadi government–aligned forces clash with al Houthis in Sana’a governorate
Horn of Africa: SNA kills al Shabaab militants in Galmudug State; SNA kills al Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle region; KDF kills al Shabaab militants near Somali-Kenyan border; suspected al Shabaab militants detonate IED in Lower Shabelle region
Yemen Security Brief:
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed on September 21 killing an al Houthi commander in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate on September 20. AQAP also claimed targeting al Houthi positions with mortar in al Bayda governorate’s Sawma’ah district that same day. The al Houthi movement claimed clearing AQAP militants from al Bayda governorate in mid-August.[1]
Hadhrami Elite Forces fired live ammunition at protestors in al Mukalla in eastern Yemen’s Hadramawt governorate on September 20, according to locals. Protestors had been demonstrating against inefficient public services. The Hadhrami Elite Forces is an Emirati-backed counterterrorism force.[2]
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi clashed with al Houthi militants in Nihm district in central Yemen’s Sana’a governorate on September 23. Hadi government–aligned forces claimed retaking al Houthi–held areas in Nihm district in mid-September.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
The Somali National Army (SNA) killed 16 al Shabaab militants in central Somalia’s Galmudug State on September 21. Al Shabaab militants conducted a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack, targeting an SNA checkpoint in Galmudug in late June.[4]
The SNA killed 12 al Shabaab militants in Barire town in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on September 21. The SNA previously killed 13 al Shabaab militants in Barire town on September 20.[5]
The Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) killed five al Shabaab militants in Lafey town in northeastern Kenya’s Mandera County near the Somali-Kenyan border on September 21. A suspected al Shabaab IED killed a security official in Mandera County in early September.[6]
Suspected al Shabaab militants detonated a roadside bomb in Afgoi town in Lower Shabelle region on September 23. The explosion killed one person and wounded two others. Al Shabaab militants allegedly attacked security checkpoints in Afgoi in late August.[7]
[1] “AQAP Resumes Issuing Military Communiques After 5 Months, Claims Killing Houthi Commander and Shelling Houthi Position in Bayda’,” SITE Intelligence Group, September 21, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Matthew Eady and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 21, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 21, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-21-2020.
[2] “Yemen: UAE-backed forces disperse demonstrators with live ammunition,” Middle East Monitor, September 23, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200923-yemen-uae-backed-forces-disperse-demonstrators-with-live-ammunition/; and Maher Farrukh, Tyler Nocita, and Emily Estelle, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 16, 2017,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 16, 2017, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-16-2017.
[3] “He was wounded previously and returned from Egypt two months ago, the martyrdom of a National Army official on Nihm front,” Yemen Akhbar, September 23, 2020, https://www.yemenakhbar.com/2552022; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 16, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 16, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-16-2020.
[4] “Army kills several Al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia,” Garowe, September 22, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/army-kills-several-al-shabaab-militants-in-central-somalia; and Zachary Jaynes and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 22, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 22, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-22-2020.
[5] “Somalia claims army gains the upper hand in war on Al-Shabaab,” Garowe, September 22, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/sna-soldiers-declare-victory-against-al-shabaab-in-lower-shabelle; and Rahma Bayrakdar and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 28, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 28, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-28-2020.
[6] “KDF soldier, five al-Shabaab militants killed in Mandera ambush,” Hiiraan, September 22, 2020, https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/Sept/180044/kdf_soldier_five_alshabaab_militants_killed_in_mandera_ambush.aspx; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 14, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 14, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-14-2020.
[7] Abdirisak M Tuuryare, “Deadly Blast Kills 1, Wounds 2 in Somalia,” Mareeg, September 23, 2020, https://mareeg.com/deadly-blast-kills-1-wounds-2-in-somalia/; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 16, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, September 16, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-september-16-2020.
