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: Al Houthi movements launches second attack on Saudi airport in two days; Saudi-led coalition conducts airstrikes in three governorates in central and northern Yemen; AQAP claims IED attack against Emirati-backed forces in Abyan
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants die in IED accident in Lamu town; suspected al Shabaab militants abduct Kenyan police reservists in Wajir County
Yemen Security Brief
Saudi Air Defense Forces shot down five al Houthi drones that were targeting Abha regional airport and the nearby city of in Asir region in southwestern Saudi Arabia on June 14. The drone attacks occurred two days after the al Houthi movement fired a missile at the same airport, injuring 26 civilians. The Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes on al Houthi positions in central Yemen on June 13 in response to the missile attack.[1]
The Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes against al Houthi military positions near the Yemeni capital in central Yemen on June 14. The coalition also conducted airstrikes on al Houthi positions in in central Yemen and in al Matama district in al Jawf governorate in northern Yemen.[2]
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting Emirati-backed al Hizam Security Forces in al Mahfad district in eastern Abyan governorate in southern Yemen on June 11. AQAP claimed to kill two soldiers in the attack.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Four al Shabaab militants accidentally killed themselves while preparing an IED in , a Kenyan coastal town near the Somali border, on June 13. The militants were placing an IED near a bridge in the town when it prematurely exploded.[4]
Suspected al Shabaab militants abducted three members of the Kenya Police Reserves from the reservists’ homes in Qorof Harer village in Wajir County in eastern Kenya on June 14.[5]
[1] “Yemen war: Second assault on Saudi Abha airport in two days,” BBC, June 14, 2019, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-48632420; “Yemen’s Houthis, in tit-for-tat, launch fresh attacks against Saudi Abha airport,” Reuters, June 14, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/yemens-houthis-in-tit-for-tat-launch-fresh-attacks-against-saudi-abha-airport-idUSKCN1TE0RB; and “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 13, 2019,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 13, 2019, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-13-2019.
[2] “Coalition aircraft destroys Houthi reinforcements in three provinces,” Hadramout, June 14, 2019, https://www.7adramout.net/adnlng/2405250/%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%AF%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AB%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A7%D8%AA.html.
[3] “AQAP Claims Killing 2 in Bombing on UAE-backed Security Belt Forces in Abyan,” SITE Intelligence Group, June 14, 2019, English translation is available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[4] “Kenya says 4 Al Shabaab killed in bomb explosion,” Mareeg, June 14, 2019, https://mareeg.com/kenya-says-4-al-shabaab-killed-in-bomb-explosion/.
[5] Harun Maruf, Twitter, June 14, 2019, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1139494614572916736.
