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: Hadi government forces exchange artillery with STC forces in Abyan governorate; Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes targeting al Houthi positions in Sana’a governorate; anti–al Houthi forces clash with al Houthis in Ma’rib governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab raids police station in northeastern Kenya; Somali court sentences two suspected al Shabaab militants to life in prison for attacks in Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi exchanged artillery with forces aligned with the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) in Zinjibar district in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate. Hadi government-aligned forces previously clashed with STC-aligned forces in Abyan governorate on July 21.[1]
The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes targeting al Houthi positions in Nihm district in central Yemen’s Sana'a governorate on July 23. Saudi-led coalition forces launched airstrikes on al Houthi positions in Nihm district in early July.[2]
Hadi government forces clashed with al Houthi militants in Sirwah district in northern Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on July 23. The Saudi-led coalition supported Hadi government forces by launching airstrikes on al Houthi positions in Sirwah district that same day. Hadi government forces previously clashed with al Houthi militants in Sirwah district in mid-July.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab militants raided a police station in Kenya’s northeastern Garissa County on July 22. A police officer stated that the militants killed one officer and injured three others. Al Shabaab claimed it killed six officers and injured ten others. The militants attacked a police station in Garissa County in early July.[4]
A Somali court sentenced two suspected al Shabaab militants to life in prison for involvement in explosive attacks in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The unspecified attacks allegedly killed several people. A Somali military court sentenced two al Shabaab militants to death for assassinations in Mogadishu in late 2019.[5]
[1] “Armed clashes between mercenaries of the Saudi-Emirati aggression in Abyan,” Alalam TV, July 23, 2020, https://www.alalamtv.net/news/5060721; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 22, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 22, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-22-2020.
[2] “New air strikes by Arab coalition fighters on Houthi sites and gatherings,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, July 24, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/173255; 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-july-10-2020.
[3] “In the name: the leader of the Houthi militia’s Special Missions was killed in Marib,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, July 24, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/173254; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 15, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 15, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-15-2020.
[4] “One dies, several injured as Al-Shabaab runs over police station in Kenya, Africa,” Garowe, July 24, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/world/africa/one-dies-several-injured-as-al-shabaab-runs-over-police-station-in-kenya; “Six Kenyan soldiers in attack on police camp Al Shabaab,” Mareeg, July 24, 2020, https://mareeg.com/six-kenyan-soldiers-in-attack-on-police-camp-al-shabaab/; “One police officer killed in Al-Shabaab attack,” Hiiraan, July 24, 2020, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/July/179217/one_police_officer_killed_in_al_shabaab_attack.aspx; and Zachary Jaynes and Matthew Eady, “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-july-10-2020.
[5] “Somalia sentences two militants to life in prison,” Mareeg, July 23, 2020, https://mareeg.com/somalia-sentences-two-militants-to-life-in-prison/; and Hennessey Herrera and Kevin Phelan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – November 14, 2019,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, November 14, 2019, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-november-14-2019.
