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: Saudi-led coalition claims to intercept al Houthi explosive-laden drone boat launched from al Hudaydah governorate; senior al Houthi leader calls on Iran to continue uranium enrichment
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks SNA bases in Lower Shabelle region; al Shabaab detonates IED in Mogadishu; Puntland State security forces claim to kill IS in Somalia militants in Bari region; al Shabaab detonates IED in southeastern Kenya
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept an al Houthi explosive-laden drone boat launched from southwestern Yemen’s al Hudaydah governorate on April 4. The coalition previously claimed to intercept al Houthi explosive-laden drone boats launched from al Hudaydah governorate on March 28.[i]
A senior al Houthi leader, Muhammad Ali al Houthi, called on Iran to continue its uranium enrichment efforts on April 5 until all parties of the 2015 nuclear agreement return to the deal.[ii]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab conducted two suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks targeting Somali National Army (SNA) bases in Awdheegle and Barire in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on April 3. Several militants entered the base in Barire. The SNA repelled the fighters, according to a regional official.[iii]
An al Shabaab militant detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) near kiosks in Shingani district in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on April 3, killing at least six people. Al Shabaab claimed the attack occurred near a district police station and killed 15 government officials. The Somali Federal Government and Somali state representatives convened for electoral negotiations in Mogadishu the same day.[iv]
Puntland State security forces claimed to kill 24 Islamic State in Somalia militants in a counterterrorism operation near Boosaaso city in northern Somalia’s Bari region on April 4. IS in Somalia claimed to detonate a vehicle-borne IED targeting the security forces and repelling them.[v]
Al Shabaab detonated an IED targeting a convoy of Kenyan troops traveling near the Somali-Kenyan border toward southeastern Kenya’s Lamu County on April 5. Al Shabaab previously detonated an IED in Lamu County on March 23.[vi]
[i] “Saudi-led coalition strikes explosives-laden Houthi boat in Red Sea,” Al Arabi al Jadid, April 4, 2021, https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2021/4/4/saudi-led-coalition-strikes-booby-trapped-houthi-boat-in-red-sea; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 29, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 29, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-29-2021.
[ii] “Houthi leader warns Iran not to stop uranium enrichment,” Middle East Monitor, April 5, 2021, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210405-houthi-leader-warns-iran-not-to-stop-uranium-enrichment/.
[iii] Hassan Barise, “Explosions in Somalia kill at least 15; army bases targeted,” Associated Press, April 3, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/world-news-mogadishu-somalia-army-672ccd1321dba35c722d8d0f2fca78a9; Harun Maruf, “Al-Shabaab Attacks Military Bases in Southern Somalia,” Voice of America, April 3, 20210, https://www.voanews.com/africa/al-shabab-attacks-military-bases-southern-somalia; and Liibaan Jeexoow, “Al Shabaab militants seize bases in Barire, Lower Shabelle,” Somalimemo, April 3, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14471/Al-Shabaab-oo-weeraro-cagmarin-ah-kula-wareegay-saldhigyo-kuyaal-deegaanka-Bariire-ee-Sh-hoose.
[iv] Hassan Barise, “Explosions in Somalia kill at least 15; army bases targeted,” Associated Press, April 3, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/world-news-mogadishu-somalia-army-672ccd1321dba35c722d8d0f2fca78a9; and Liibaan Jeexoow, “Farmajo's government and Al Shabaab spoke differently about the Shangaani bombing,” Somalimemo, April 4, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14477/Dowladda-Farmaajo-iyo-Al-Shabaab-oo-siyaabo-kala-duwan-uga-hadlay-Qaraxii-Shangaani.
[v] “Puntland troops foil car bombs, kill 24 ISIS militants in operation,” Garowe, April 5, 2021, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/puntland/puntland-troops-foil-car-bombs-kill-24-isis-militants-in-operation; and “IS Claims 21 Casualties Among Puntland Special Forces in Counter-Offensive Near Bosaso,” SITE Intelligence Group, April 5, 2021, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[vi] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Looga car burned in the Kenyan Lamu,” Somalimemo, April 5, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14485/Qarax-gaari-looga-gubay-ciidanka-Kenya-oo-Lamu-ka-dhacay; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 24, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 24, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-24-2021.
