Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Humanitarian ceasefire announcement anticipated within 24 hours; popular resistance leaders react to news of humanitarian ceasefire; Saudi Arabian airstrike hits Yemeni army brigade

Horn of Africa: Ethiopian troops enter Gedo region

Yemen Security Brief

• United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced on July 9 that a humanitarian ceasefire between the government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the al Houthi movement is anticipated to be announced within 24 hours. The agreement comes after Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed met with members of the Hadi government and the al Houthi movement in both Riyadh and Sana’a this past week in an effort to draft a preliminary humanitarian agreement.[1]

• Brigadier General Yusef al Sharaji, commander of the Dhabab sector in the Taiz military council, stated that he would welcome an unconditional withdrawal of al Houthi forces from the city as a step toward peace. Additionally, Aden popular resistance spokesman Said Ali Ahmadi stated that the humanitarian ceasefire will only apply if the al Houthis fully withdraw from the city of Aden.[2]

• A Saudi Arabian-led coalition airstrike killed at least 30 Yemeni soldiers belonging to the 23rd Mechanized Brigade in the al Abr region of Hadramawt governorate on July 7. Reporting indicated the soldiers were believed to be defecting to the al Houthi movement, though this has been denied as a rumor. Representatives from the government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi have announced that they have created a committee in Riyadh to investigate the incident.[3] 

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Residents report that at least 3,000 heavily armed Ethiopian troops have crossed the border into Gedo region and have been seen outside of Luq. The troops are preparing to participate in offensive to drive al Shabaab from Bardhere, the group’s last major stronghold in Somalia.[4]