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: Hadi government officials arrive in Riyadh to discuss implementing Riyadh Agreement; STC forces launch artillery at Hadi government forces allegedly striking Saudi-led coalition cease-fire monitoring forces in Abyan governorate; Hadi government forces claim surrounding al Jawf governorate’s capital; al Houthis claim territorial control in al Bayda governorate
Horn of Africa: SNA claims killing al Shabaab commander and three militants in southern Somalia; SNA forces kill at least six al Shabaab militants in southern Somalia; al Shabaab claims raid on military base in central Somalia; Somali special forces seize at least four al Shabaab-held towns in southern Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
A spokesman for the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi announced on June 24 that several Hadi government officials arrived in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to discuss the implementation of the November 2019 Riyadh Agreement. A Saudi-led coalition official said on June 22 that the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) and Hadi government agreed to a cease-fire in Abyan governorate and a de-escalation of tensions in other southern areas. Saudi Arabia brokered the power-sharing Riyadh Agreement to prevent the fracturing of the anti–al Houthi coalition, which includes Hadi government and STC forces.[1]
STC forces reportedly launched artillery at Hadi government forces in Khanfir district in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate. The artillery allegedly struck Saudi-led coalition forces monitoring the cease-fire between Hadi government and STC forces. Coalition forces arrived in Abyan governorate to monitor the cease-fire on June 24.[2]
Hadi government forces claimed surrounding al Hazm city, the capital of al Jawf governorate, on June 25. Hadi government forces reportedly recaptured territory from al Houthi militants near al Hazm district in northern Yemen’s al Jawf governorate in mid-June. Al Houthi militants seized al Hazm city in early March.[3]
Al Houthi militants reportedly took control of territory from Hadi government forces in Qaniya district in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate. Hadi government forces claimed repelling an al Houthi advance in Qaniya district in mid-June.[4]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Somali National Army (SNA) forces reported killing an al Shabaab commander and three militants in southern Somalia’s Middle Jubba region on June 25. Somali state media identified the alleged commander as Nepalese born Ahsraf Azmi Abu Hamdan. The SNA claimed attacking al Shabaab meetings in Middle Jubba region in mid-May.[5]
SNA forces killed six al Shabaab militants near Jamame and Kismayo towns in southern Somalia’s Lower Jubba region on June 25. Al Shabaab raided a Jubbaland State security force base in Lower Jubba in late May.[6]
Al Shabaab’s Shahada News Agency released a statement on June 24 claiming al Shabaab militants raided an unspecified military post near Balad town in central Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region. Somali police thwarted a suspected al Shabaab attack near Balad town on June 13.[7]
Somalia’s Danab special forces recaptured at least four al Shabaab-held towns in Lower Jubba region, according to an SNA official on June 24. SNA and African Union Mission in Somalia forces seized an al Shabaab-held village in central Somalia’s Hiraan region on June 17.[8]
[1] Ahmed Abdel-Zahir, “A delegation from the Yemeni government arrives in the Kingdom to discuss the implementation of the "Riyadh Agreement,” 7adramout, June 25, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/wasul/7418834/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85---%D9%88%D9%81%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%AB-%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B0-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6.html; “Yemen's government, separatists agree on ceasefire,” Middle East Monitor, June 22, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200622-yemens-government-separatists-agree-on-ceasefire/; and Jessica Kocan, “Yemen File: Al Houthi Movement Offensive Targets Oil in Northern Yemen,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 10, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/yemen-file/yemen-file-al-houthi-movement-offensive-targets-oil-in-northern-yemen.
[2] “The latest field developments from the frontline in Abyan,” Mareb Press, June 25, 2020, https://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=164778; and Zachary Jaynes and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 24, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 24, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-24-2020.
[3] Omar Alothmani and Hacer Baser, “Yemeni army surrounds town under Houthi control,” Anadolu Agency, June 26, 2020, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/yemeni-army-surrounds-town-under-houthi-control/1890377; Zachary Jaynes and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 24, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 24, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-24-2020; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 4, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 4, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-4-2020.
[4] “Agency: Houthi militia controls "Qaniya" in Al-Bayda,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, June 25, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/170165; and Zachary Jaynes and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 24, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 24, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-24-2020.
[5] Feisal Omar, “Commander in Somali al Shabaab militant group killed – state media,” Reuters, June 25, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-violence-idUSKBN23W38K; and Kalissa Azooz and Muhammad Ramadhito, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-13-2020/.
[6] “Six al Shabab militants killed in southern region,” Xinhua, June 25, 2020, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/25/c_139166615.htm; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review –June 22, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-27-2020.
[7] “In week of suicide bombings, Shabaab additionally claims raids on Somali and Ugandan forces,” SITE Intelligence Group, June 25, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 15, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 15, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-15-2020.
[8] “Somali military liberates 4 villages from al Shabaab,” Anadolu Agency, June 24,2020, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/somali-military-liberates-4-villages-from-al-shabaab/1888891; and Matthew Eady and Zachary Jaynes, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 17, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 17, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-17-2020
