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 launches airstrikes on al Houthis in Sana’a governorate; Hadi government forces attack STC-held areas in Abyan governorate; Hadi government forces claim shooting down al Houthi plane in Sana’a governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks AMISOM forces in southern Somalia; pro-al Shabaab media claims al Shabaab attack on AMISOM base in central Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Saudi-led coalition forces reportedly launched airstrikes targeting an al Houthi movement drone facility in al Sabaha in Sana’a governorate in northern Yemen. The airstrikes allegedly destroyed nearby homes and injured Yemeni civilians. Saudi-led coalition forces previously launched airstrikes targeting al Houthi militants in Sana’a governorate on June 2.[1]
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi attacked territory held by the UAE-backed Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) near Zinjibar city in southern Yemen's Abyan governorate. Hadi government forces allegedly captured Emirati weapons. Hadi government forces seized Jaar city from STC forces in Abyan governorate on June 7 before STC forces claimed recapturing the city the same day.[2]
Hadi government forces claimed shooting down an al Houthi plane in Nihm district in Sana’a governorate on June 9. Hadi government forces claimed capturing several al Houthi-held areas in Nihm district on June 7.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab ambushed African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces in Janaale town in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on June 8. An AMISOM spokesman stated that the clashes killed three civilians and injured two others. AMISOM and US Africa Command supported the Somali National Army’s (SNA) operation to retake al Shabaab’s stronghold Janaale in mid-March.[4]
Pro-al Shabaab media outlet Somalimemo reported an al Shabaab attack on an AMISOM base near Balad town in central Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region on June 9. Al Shabaab overran an SNA base near Balad on June 4.[5]
[1] “Coalition aviation targets al Houthi drones facility in Sana’a,” 7adramout, June 10, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/aden-time/7405576/%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1.html; “An entire Yemeni family was wounded by the bombing by the Saudis in Yemen”, Alalam TV, June 10, 2020, https://www.alalamtv.net/news/4982351; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 3, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 3, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-3-2020.
[2] “Yemen Army Seizes UAE Missiles from the Transitional Council,” Middle East Monitor, June 9, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200609-yemen-army-seizes-uae-missiles-from-the-transitional-council/; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 8, 2020,”Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 8, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-8-2020.
[3] "The Yemeni army takes al Houthi militia positions in the Nihm front,” 7adramout, June 9, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/al-ain/7404439/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86---%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%83-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B9-%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A9-%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85.html; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 8, 2020,”Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 8, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-8-2020.
[4] “Somalia: AMISOM Admits Killing 3 Civilians in Battle with al Shabaab,” All Africa, June 10, 2020, https://allafrica.com/stories/202006100688.html; “AU forces kill civilians after Al-Shabaab ambush in Somalia,” Garowe, June 10, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/au-forces-kill-civilians-after-al-shabaab-ambush-in-somalia; and “SNA troops liberate strategic town of Janaale from Al-Shabaab,” Garowe, March 17, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-sna-troops-liberate-strategic-town-of-janaale-from-al-shabaab.
[5] Liban Jeeh, “AMISOM base in Balcad district hit by mortar attack,” Somalimemo, June 10, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/13097/Saldhigga-ciidamada-AMISOM-ee-degmada-Balcad-oo-Weerar-madaafiic-ah-lagu-qaaday; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 8, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 8, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-8-2020.
