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: AQAP attacks in two governorates; Houthi media claims ROYG head seeks normalization with Israel
Somalia: The Kenya Air Force bombs areas in southern Somalia; al Shabaab IED targets a communications tower in eastern Kenya
Yemen Security Brief:
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants attacked in two governorates in southern Yemen on June 22. AQAP militants ambushed a Shabwah Defense Forces checkpoint near Ataq city in Shabwah governorate.[i] The attack killed five soldiers and wounded an unspecified number of others. AQAP militants also ambushed troops of the Abyan Military Axis on patrol in Ahwar district in Abyan governorate.[ii] The militants killed three soldiers in the initial ambush and later executed two soldiers they captured during the ambush.
Houthi-run newspaper Al Thawrah claimed on June 18 that Yemeni President Rashad al Alimi met with Israel’s deputy foreign minister, the Israeli ambassador to Egypt, and an Egyptian intelligence official at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egypt.[iii] The report, which Al Thawrah claimed Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote, claimed al Alimi discussed normalization with the Israeli officials.
Somalia Security Brief:
The Kenya Air Force reportedly bombed areas in Elwaq, Beled Hawo, and Dolow districts, Gedo region, southern Somalia, on June 22.[iv] The airstrikes hit al Shabaab-controlled areas. The Kenya Air Force bombed some of the same villages in the area on June 15.[v]
Al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device targeting a communications tower in Rhamu, Mandera County, eastern Kenya, on June 21.[vi] Al Shabaab claimed to capture Rhamu on June 19.[vii]
[i] SMA News, “Martyrs and wounded in a terrorist attack targeting a security point belonging to the Shabwah Defense Forces in the city of Ataq Asma,” June 22, 2022, https://smanews.org/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%86%d9%88%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a8%d9%8a/285834/.
[ii] Al Ain, “The return of al Qaeda terrorism to Yemen… Treacherous attacks in Abyan and Shabwah,” June 22, 2022, https://al-ain.com/article/yemen-al-qaeda-attacks-terrorism.
[iii] Al Thawrah, “Details of the meeting of the agent Rashad al Alimi with the Israelis in Cairo,” June 18, 2022, http://althawrah.ye/archives/749259.
[iv] Horseed Media, “Kenya increases airstrikes in Gedo region,” June 22, 2022 https://horseedmedia.net/2022/06/22/kenya-oo-kordhisay-duqeymaha-dhanka-cirka-ah-ee-ay-ka-fuliso-gobolka-gedo/; Caasimada, “Latest news from Kenya shelling in Gedo region,” June 22, 2022, https://www.caasimada.net/wararkii-ugu-dambeeyey-duqeymaha-ay-kenya-ka-wada-gobolka-gedo/.
[v] Halbeeg, “Kenyan warplanes allegedly hit parts of Gedo region,” June 15, 2022, https://en.halbeeg.com/2022/06/15/kenyan-warplanes-allegedly-hit-parts-of-gedo-region/.
[vi] Halbeeg, “Al Shabaab destroys communication mast in Mandera,” June 22, 2022, https://en.halbeeg.com/2022/06/21/al-shabaab-destroys-communication-mast-in-mandera/.
[vii] Radio al Furqaan, “Al Shabaab forces seize Mandera district,” June 19, 2022, https://radioalfurqaan.com/2022/06/ciidamada-al-shabaab-oo-la-wareegay-degmo-katirsan-mandheera/.
