Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Suspected Ansar al Sharia militants rob government vehicles; tribesmen raid al Houthi stronghold

Horn of Africa: Puntland security forces arrest militants in Boosaaso, Bari region; IJA forces conduct operation in Kismayo

Yemen Security Brief

• Suspected Ansar al Sharia militants ambushed and robbed three government vehicles in al Mukalla, Hadramawt on January 13.  While no group has claimed credit for the attack, Ansar al Sharia has increased activity against government and bank vehicles in the past several weeks.[1]

• Tribesmen affiliated with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) raided an al Houthi stronghold in Rada’a, al Bayda on January 11.  Five al Houthis and three tribesmen were killed in the raid, which freed five tribesmen captured by al Houthi militants earlier in the week.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Puntland security forces arrested an unknown number of suspected terrorists on January 13 in Boosaaso, Bari region in connection to a January 11 hand grenade attack on a police station. Al Shabaab later claimed credit for the attack.[3]

• Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) forces conducted an operation in Kismayo, Lower Jubba region on January 12, arresting an unknown number of militants. The operation was in response to a January 10 al Shabaab attack in the same area.[4]