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 forces claim gaining al Houthi-held territory in Sana’a governorate; STC forces claim regaining control of city from Hadi government forces in Abyan governorate
Horn of Africa: SNA forces attack al Shabaab base in southern Somalia; Galmudug State security forces kill al Shabaab IED expert in central Somalia; ISCA claims attacks targeting civilians and soldiers in northeastern DRC
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi captured several areas in Nihm district, east of the Yemeni capital Sana’a, on June 7, according to Saudi media. Hadi government forces claimed repelling an al Houthi attack in Nihm district in late May.[1]
Hadi government forces captured Jaar city in Abyan governorate in southern Yemen on June 7. A Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) spokesman claimed STC forces regained control of Jaar the same day. Clashes between STC and Hadi government forces caused at least 20 casualties total. The STC declared self-rule in southern Yemen in late April to displace Hadi’s government.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
SNA forces attacked an al Shabaab base near Abal town in southern Somalia’s Bakool region on June 7, according to an SNA commander. The commander claimed SNA forces killed 37 al Shabaab militants. Pro-al Shabaab media sources claimed the militants killed 15 SNA soldiers. SNA forces ambushed al Shabaab militants near Wajid town in Bakool region in early December 2019.[3]
SNA-backed Galmudug State security forces killed an al Shabaab improvised explosive device (IED) expert in Galkayo in central Somalia’s Mudug region on June 6. Al Shabaab detonated a vehicle-borne IED in Galkayo in mid-May, killing Mudug’s regional governor.[4]
The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCA) claimed multiple attacks on June 5 targeting Congolese civilians and soldiers in Losilosi village near Beni city in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s North Kivu province. ISCA claimed killing seven Congolese Christians in the same village on June 4 and six Congolese soldiers on June 5.[5]
[1] “With coalition support the Yemeni army controls areas east of Sana’a,” Al Arabiya, June 7, 2020, https://www.alarabiya.net/ar/arab-and-world/yemen/2020/06/07/%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1.html; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 1, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 1, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-1-2020.
[2] “Transitional council reveals results of recent battles in Abyan,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, June 8, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/168462; and “Southern forces inflict heavy losses on brotherhood militia in Jaar, Abyan,” 7adramout, June 7, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almandebnews/7403249/%E2%80%8F%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%91%D8%AF-%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86.html; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-27-2020.
[3] “SNA killed 11 Al-Shabab fighters in security Operation, Bakol region,” Goobjoog, June 7, 2020, http://goobjoog.com/english/sna-killed-11-al-shabab-fighters-in-security-operation-bakol-region/; “Senior Al-Shabaab commander surrenders to SNA troops in central Somalia,” June 8, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/senior-al-shabaab-commander-surrenders-to-sna-troops-in-central-somalia; and Kevin Phelan and Hennessey Herrera, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - December 12, 2019,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, December 12, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-december-12-2019
[4] “Galmudug forces kill Al-Shabaab IED operative in Galkayo,” Hiiraan Online, June 7, 2020,https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/Jun/178473/galmudug_forces_kill_al_shabaab_ied_expert_in_galkayo.aspx; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - May 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-18-2020
[5] “IS Again Claims Attack on Congolese Christians in Ruwenzori, Ambush on Soldiers in Village,” SITE Intelligence Group, June 5, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Samuel Bloebaum and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - June 3, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, June 3, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-june-3-2020
