Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: AQAP militants reportedly kill al Houthis in al Bayda governorate; Saudi Arabia claims intercepting al Houthi explosive drone launched from al Hudaydah governorate; Hadi government–aligned forces clash with STC-aligned forces in Abyan governorate; Saudi-led coalition forces launch airstrikes on al Houthis in northern Yemen

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab claims capturing town in south-central Somalia; ISCA claims attacking Mozambican army posts in northern Mozambique; SNA soldiers attack al Shabaab hideout in southwestern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief:

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) killed an al Houthi militant in Rada’a district in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate on August 6, according to pro-al Qaeda media. AQAP militants also allegedly killed an STC-aligned soldier in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate that same day. AQAP claimed attacking al Houthi militants in al Bayda governorate in early April.[1]

A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition announced that Saudi Arabia intercepted an al Houthi explosive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on August 6. Al Houthi militants launched the explosive UAV from southern Yemen’s al Hudaydah governorate. Al Houthi militants previously launched an explosive UAV toward Saudi Arabia from al Hudaydah governorate in mid-June 2019.[2]

Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi clashed with forces aligned with the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) in Shaqra city in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate on August 6. Hadi government–aligned forces previously clashed with STC-aligned forces in Abyan governorate on August 5.[3]

The Saudi-led coalition launched multiple airstrikes on al Houthi positions in northern Yemen’s al Jawf and Sa’ada governorates on August 5 and 6, respectively. Saudi-led coalition airstrikes struck al Houthi positions in al Jawf governorate’s Khub wa al Shaf district and in Sa’ada governorate’s Razih district. Al Houthi militants claimed the airstrikes in al Jawf killed and injured several civilians. Saudi-led coalition forces previously launched airstrikes on al Houthi positions in Sa’ada and al Jawf governorates in mid- and late July, respectively.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Al Shabaab claimed on August 6 driving South West State security forces from Goof Gaduud town in south-central Somalia’s Bay region on August 5. State security forces allegedly fled the town after hearing about al Shabaab’s attack on a Somali National Army (SNA) base near Daynunay in Bay region on August 5.[5]

The Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCA) claimed attacking two Mozambican military posts near Mocimboa da Praia city in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on August 6. ISCA claimed inflicting 50 Mozambican force casualties in the attacks. The group later released a photo of ammunition and weapons it allegedly seized during the attack. Islamic State-aligned militants raided Tandacua village near Macomia in Cabo Delgado province in late July.[6]

SNA soldiers killed six al Shabaab militants in an attack targeting an al Shabaab hideout on the outskirts of Kismayo in southwestern Somalia’s Lower Jubba region on August 6. Local residents reported SNA and al Shabaab casualties. SNA forces attacked al Shabaab militants near Jamaame town in Lower Jubba region on August 2.[7]