Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Houthi drone targets Saudi Arabia; Houthi ballistic missile targets civilians in southern Yemen; police arrest IS-Yemen cell in southwestern Yemen

Somalia: Al Shabaab suicide bomber kills election delegates in central Somalia; US airstrikes support US-trained special Somali forces in operation in south-central Somalia; al Shabaab attempts to assassinate the Puntland president in an IED attack

Yemen Security Brief

The Houthis launched at least one explosive-laden drone targeting Jizan Regional Airport in Jizan province, southwestern Saudi Arabia, on February 21.[i] Saudi air defenses reportedly intercepted the drone. Shrapnel from the purported interception wounded sixteen people. The Saudi-led coalition conducted retaliatory airstrikes in al Bayda governorate, central Yemen, on February 22.[ii]

The Houthis launched at least one ballistic missile targeting a mosque in Ataq city, Shabwah governorate, southern Yemen, on February 19.[iii] The strike caused an unspecified number of civilian casualties.

Police officials in Taiz governorate, southwestern Yemen, arrested four members of an Islamic State – Yemen cell on February 22.[iv]

Somalia Security Brief

An al Shabaab militant detonated a suicide vest targeting election delegates in Beledweyne, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on February 19.[v] The explosion killed at least ten people and wounded fifteen others. Beledweyne still held controversial lower house elections on February 20.[vi]

US-trained Danab forces cleared al Shabaab-controlled villages with support from likely US airstrikes near the Middle Shabelle-Hiraan regional border, south-central Somalia, on February 22.[vii] The military claimed to kill 60 al Shabaab militants, including five “leaders” in the operation. Al Shabaab-linked media claimed security forces called in the airstrikes after al Shabaab repelled the soldiers and besieged their base.[viii] The army said they received air support from “Somalia’s security partners.” These are the first likely US airstrikes in Somalia since August 2021.

Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting Puntland President Said Deni’s convoy near Bossaso, Bari region, northern Somalia, on February 21.[ix] The IED killed two soldiers and wounded at least four others. Deni was traveling to Bossaso to oversee upcoming lower house elections.