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.

February 25, 2015

Yemen: Al Houthis seize Special Forces camp near Sana’a; unidentified militants detonate IEDs in Aden; al Houthis kidnap al Islah leader

Horn of Africa: Unidentified militants detonate IED in Mogadishu

Yemen Security Brief

  • Al Houthis seized a Special Forces camp in al Sabahah, directly west of Sana’a, on February 25. Fighting broke out on February 24 when al Houthis attacked the camp. Ten people died in the fighting. The units at the camp were reportedly counter-terrorism units trained by the U.S. during the rule of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.[1]
  • Unidentified militants detonated two improvised explosive devices (IED) in Aden city, Aden on February 24. One targeted Aden airport, while the other targeted a government complex in al Mualla. The militants exchanged fire with soldiers in Badr neighborhood following the detonations.[2]
  • Al Houthi militants kidnapped al Islah (Reform) party leader Mohammad Qahtan in Sahul, Ibb on February 24. The al Houthis returned him to the capital, Sana’a, where they put him under house arrest.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

  • Unidentified militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in Mogadishu on February 24, killing two engineers. No group has claimed credit for the attack, but al Shabaab often carries out targeted assassination in Mogadishu.[4]
[1] Mohammed Ghobari, “Yemen Houthis take over U.S.-trained special forces base in Sanaa,” Reuters, February 25, 2015. Available: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/25/us-yemen-security-special-forces-idUSKBN0LT0B120150225 
“Special forces repel al Houthi attack on camp in Sana’a,” al Watanye, February 24, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.alwatanye.net/82003.htm
“Special forces regain control of military camp gates in Abbah,” Barakish, February 24, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=279994
[2] “Two explosions near Aden airport in south Yemen,” al Masdar, February 25, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/68560
[3] “Al Houthis detain Islah party leader in central Yemen,” al Masdar, February 24, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/68529
“Islah party confirms abduction of Mohammad Qahtan,” Barakish, February 24, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=279988
“Al Houthis put Islah leader Mohammad Qahtan under house arrest,” al Masdar, February 25, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/68554
[4] “Somali engineer killed in car bomb explosion,” Dalsan Radio, February 24. Available: http://www.radiodalsan.com/2015/02/24/breaking-news-somali-engineer-killed-in-car-bomb-explosion/
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