Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: ISIS Wilayat Sana’a targets al Houthis with four VBIEDs in Sana’a; UN extends Geneva political talks

Horn of Africa:  Al Shabaab attempts to detonate SVBIED in Galgudud; clash between al Shabaab and security forces leaves at least 25 dead in Gedo region

Yemen Security Brief

• Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) Wilayat Sana’a militants detonated four separate vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED) in the capital, Sana’a, on June 17, the first day of the Islami holy month of Ramadan. The VBIEDs targeted two separate mosques in west-central Sana’a, an al Houthi member’s home in northern Sana’a, and the al Houthi’s political headquarters. The attacks killed or injured upwards of 50 people.[1]

• The UN extended Yemeni political talks in Geneva until June 19 due to the lack of progress that has occurred thus far between President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government and the al Houthi movement.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab militants attempted to detonate a suicide VBIED targeting the residential compound of the central state building conference in Adado, Galgudud region, on June 18. African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops shot and killed three armed militants before the gunmen could storm the compound.[3]

• A clash between al Shabaab militants, Somali armed forces, and Ethiopian AMISOM troops left at least 25 dead in Gedweyne, Gedo region.  Al Shabaab claimed its militants seized a military base in Luuq, Gedo region, following the attack, but Somali officials have not verified this claim.[4]