Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: Fighting outside of Sana’a kills one person; army colonel assassinated in Aden

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab pledges allegiance to al Zawahiri; clashes with local forces and al Shabaab in Beledweyne continue; Somalia officer accuses Somali Defense Ministry of failing to support effort against al Shabaab in Hiraan; Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a accuse al Shabaab of disturbing civilians in southern Somalia; suspected Somali-trained suicide bomber attacks Nigeria’s National Police Headquarters

Yemen Security Brief

• The Yemen Post reports that fighting between the army and tribesman erupted outside of Sana’a in al Haima al Kharjyah, killing a woman and injuring others. Clashes between the military and local tribes also occurred in nearby districts such as Nihm and Arhab.[1]

• A bomb killed loyalist colonel Muti’a al Sayani in Burayqa, near Aden, on June 13.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab announced its allegiance to al Qaeda’s newly appointed leader Ayman al Zawahiri. Al Shabaab also stated that they would increase their efforts of jihad in Somalia.[3]

• Shabelle Valley local forces and al Shabaab militants continued to clash near Beledweyne in Hiraan region. The fighting began after al Shabaab operatives attacked key military bases in the area. Shabelle Media Network reported that over thirty people have been killed and forty others wounded.[4]

• Somali military officer Adam Abdi Isse accused the Somalia’s Defense Ministry of failing to take care of the military in Hiraan. Isse demanded more food and military support as his forces continue to battle al Shabaab.[5]

• The Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama’a in Gedo region has accused al Shabaab of disturbing civilians in southern Somalia. Reports of checkpoint robbing were a major complaint.[6]

• A man was stoned to death in Mahas district of Hiraan by al Shabaab insurgents for allegedly committing rape.[7]

• A suspected al Qaeda-linked suicide bomber, who had allegedly trained in Somalia, drove a car full of explosives into Nigeria’s National Police Headquarters in the capital, Abuja. The driver and one other person were killed.[8]