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.
Yemen: Saudi-led coalition airstrike allegedly kills nine civilians in al Jawf governorate; Hadi reportedly rejects UN cease-fire proposal; Hadi government forces clash with STC forces in Abyan governorate; al Houthi militants launch missile targeting Ma’rib city; Hadi government forces claim regaining al Houthi territory in al Bayda governorate; al Houthis clash among themselves in Yemeni capital
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab claims killing ten Jubbaland State security members in southern Somalia; al Shabaab IED kills one militant near Kenyan-Somali border; Somali Federal Member States oppose delayed parliamentary and presidential elections
Yemen Security Brief:
A Saudi-led coalition airstrike allegedly killed nine citizens in al Hazm district in northern Yemen’s al Jawf governorate on July 15. The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes targeting al Houthi positions in al Jawf governorate in early July.[1]
The president of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, rejected a UN-led cease-fire proposal on July 13, according to the Middle East Monitor. President Hadi reportedly met with the UN Special Envoy to Yemen in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in late June.[2]
Hadi government forces clashed with forces aligned with the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) near Shaqra city and Zinjibar city, respectively, in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate on July 14. Hadi government forces previously clashed with STC forces in Abyan governorate on July 12.[3]
A Saudi-led coalition spokesman claimed al Houthi militants launched a missile targeting Ma'rib governorate’s capital, Ma’rib city, on July 14. The missile allegedly targeted civilians and residential areas. Hadi government forces reportedly clashed with al Houthi militants in Ma’rib governorate’s Sirwah district on the same day.[4]
Hadi government forces claimed regaining al Houthi–held territory in Qaniya front in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate on July 13. Hadi government forces clashed with al Houthi militants in Qaniya front on July 12.[5]
Al Houthi militants clashed among themselves in Yemen’s capital, Sana'a, on July 14. The clashes reportedly occurred over a territorial dispute. Al Houthi militants previously clashed among themselves over disputed land near Sana’a in early July.[6]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab claimed killing ten Jubbaland State security force soldiers in Bulo-Gadud area in southern Somalia’s Lower Jubba region on July 14. Jubbaland security officials claimed repelling the attack. Al Shabab attacked a Jubbaland State security force base in Lower Jubba region in early June.[7]
An al Shabaab improvised explosive device (IED) killed one al Shabaab militant in northeastern Kenya’s Mandera County on July 13. The militant died while planting the IED by triggering the device. Al Shabaab attacked a communications mast in Mandera County in mid-June.[8]
Somalia’s Federal Member States announced their opposition to the delayed upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections on July 13. Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission announced in late June that the parliamentary and presidential elections, originally scheduled for October and November, respectively, needed to be delayed over logistical and security concerns.[9]
[1] “Fresh Saudi Airstrike Destroys 3 Houses in Al-Jawf, Killing and Injuring Civilians,” Al Masirah, July 15, 2020, https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=13980&cat_id=1; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 8, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 8, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-8-2020.
[2] “Yemen government rejects UN envoy’s draft peace proposals,” Middle East Monitor, July 15, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200715-yemen-government-rejects-un-envoys-draft-peace-proposals/; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 1, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 1, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-1-2020.
[3] “Missile and artillery shelling ... Violent battles between the army and the Transitional militia on the outskirts of the city of Zanzibar ... and sources reveal the latest developments,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, July 15, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/172196; “Renewed clashes between southern forces and the Brotherhood's militia in Shakra,” 7adramout, July 14, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/aden24/7438032/%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B4%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A9.html; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-review-july-13-2020.
[4] “The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Terrorist Houthi Militia Launches Ballistic Missile Targeting Civilians in (Ma’rib) Governorate,” Saudi Press Agency, July 14, 2020, https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2110097; and “A counterattack by the National Army in Sarwah, dozens of dead and wounded, for the Houthi militia,” Mareb Press, July 14, 2020, https://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=165386.
[5] “Al-Baida: The army and the resistance are liberating new sites in the Qaniya front,” Aden al Ghad, July 14, 2020, http://adengd.net/news/476720/; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-review-july-13-2020.
[6] “Houthi violent clashes east of Sanaa,” 7adramout, July 14, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7438148/%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1.html; “Inter-Houthi clashes in Sanaa, in which machine guns were used,” 7adramout, July 4, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/4MAY/7429265/%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%8F%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%A9.html.
[7] “Al Shabaab claims killing 10 soldiers in clashes with Somalia’s Jubbaland troops,” Somalia Affairs, July 14, 2020, https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/al-shabaab-claims-killing-10-soldiers-in-clashes-with-somalias-jubbaland-troops/; and Samuel Bloebaum and Matthew Eady , “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 12, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 12, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-12-2020.
[8] “Al Shabaab terrorist killed in Kenya’s border town,” Xinhua, July 14, 2020, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2020-07/14/c_139209923.htm; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 10, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 10, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-15-2020.
[9] “Somalia Not Ready for Direct Elections Yet!,” Horseed Media, July 13, 2020, https://horseedmedia.net/2020/07/13/somalia-not-ready-for-direct-elections-yet/; and Abdi Guled, “Somali to delay elections by 13 months, says official,” Associated Press, June 29, 2020, https://apnews.com/e252bd5be4215415d181401c86f520c6.
