Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Ansar al Sharia and al Houthis clash in al Bayda; aid camp in Hadramawt attacked by mortars; al Houthi members take control of office of Minister of Information

Horn of Africa: Roadside bomb targets AMISOM forces in Mogadishu; Ethiopian troops leave El Garas in Galgudud region; al Shabaab releases video showing beheading of Somali soldier

Yemen Security Brief

• Ansar al Sharia militants clashed with al Houthi forces north of Rada’a, al Bayda in central Yemen on January 7, resulting in an unknown number of casualties.  Ansar Al Sharia later claimed credit for the attack. [1]

• Suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants launched 3 mortar shells at an aid camp in al Mukalla, Hadramawt with no reported casualties. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.[2]

• The al Houthi popular committee in Sana’a forcefully entered the office of the Minister of Information Nadia Sakkaf on the morning of January 8.  The al Houthis reportedly made copies of documents in the office and said that they will retain a presence in the office in the days to come.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• A roadside bomb targeted a convoy of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in Wardhigley district, Mogadishu on January 8. Exact casualty numbers are not known but one person is confirmed dead. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.[4]

• Ethiopian AMISOM troops left the town of El Garas, Galgudud region on January 7. The troops are headed toward Dhusamareb, the capital of Galgudud. Officials have not commented on the departure.[5]

• Al Shabaab released a video on January 5 depicting its November 2014 capture of Kudha Island in Lower Jubba region. The video shows al Shabaab militants fighting Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) forces and concludes with the beheading of a captured IJA soldier.[6]