Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Suspected Houthi militants attempt to assassinate a security official in southwestern Yemen; Houthis continue to send reinforcements and equipment to Ma’rib governorate; Yemen’s foreign minister says ceasefire threatened by Houthi troop and equipment movements

Somalia: Al Shabaab denies NISA assassination plot accusations; SNA and AMISOM forces secure a town in central Somalia; SNA forces arrest al Shabaab militants in central Somalia; Danab forces secure villages in southern Somalia 

Yemen Security Brief:

Suspected Houthi militants attempted to assassinate the director of security for al Waziyah district, Taiz governorate, on April 6.[i] The ambush wounded the director and killed one member of his security detail. Units affiliated with Tariq Saleh’s National Resistance Forces are responsible for security in al Waziyah district.

The Houthis reportedly continued to send reinforcements and equipment into Ma’rib governorate, central Yemen. Military sources reported the Houthis moved troops, combat equipment, drones, and missiles to sites in Ma’rib and al Jawf governorates on April 5.[ii] Sources also reported the Houthis moved several armored vehicles and tanks from Sana’a governorate into Ma’rib governorate on April 6.[iii]

Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak said on April 4 that the Houthis’ mobilization of personnel and equipment to the frontlines in Ma’rib governorate threatens the ceasefire in Yemen.[iv] He also called on the international community to help preserve the ceasefire.

Somalia Security Brief:

Al Shabaab denied National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) accusations that it planned to assassinate the Somali president and prime minister.[v] Al Shabaab said the claim is related to internal government clashes and proof that NISA plans to assassinate its political rivals.[vi] Somali opposition politicians accused NISA of spreading al Shabaab propaganda and implicitly threatening the prime minister.[vii]

Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces secured Bulo Burde town, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on April 6.[viii] The security forces conducted search operations in residential areas and arrested several suspected al Shabaab militants.

SNA forces arrested two al Shabaab militants and seized their car carrying improvised explosive devices in Guriel, Dhusamareb district, Galgadud region, central Somalia, on April 6.[ix]

US-trained SNA Danab special forces secured villages in Jowhar district, Middle Shabelle region, and Afgoi district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on April 6.[x]