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: Saudi-led coalition intercepts al Houthi ballistic missile and drones targeting Saudi Arabia; al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clash in Ma’rib governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks Kenyan military bases in Lower Jubba region; al Shabaab targets security officials in Mogadishu; al Shabaab kills Kenyan officer in Mandera County; UN Security Council announces sanctions on al Shabaab militants
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept an al Houthi ballistic missile and 15 drones targeting the Saudi capital and Abha and Khamis Mushait cities in southern Saudi Arabia on February 27. The Saudi-led coalition previously claimed to intercept an al Houthi drone targeting Khamis Mushait city on February 26.[i]
Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed on the Sirwah, al Kassara, and al Masjah fronts of central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on March 1. Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government claimed to kill 350 al Houthi militants during the clashes. Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces previously clashed in Ma’rib governorate’s Sirwah district on February 27.[ii]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Suspected al Shabaab militants attacked Kenyan military bases in Kuday and Abdale Birole in southern Somalia’s Lower Jubba region on March 1. Al Shabaab attacked a Kenyan military base in Lower Jubba region’s Taabta on February 27.[iii]
Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device targeting Somali National Army forces in Hodan district of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on February 28. Al Shabaab also killed three security officers at Mogadishu’s Bakara market the same day.[iv]
Al Shabaab killed a Kenyan army officer in Sheikh Barrow village in Mandera County in northeastern Kenya on February 27. Al Shabaab ambushed a convoy of Kenyan police officers in Mandera County on February 25.[v]
The UN Security Council sanctioned al Shabaab senior leaders Abukar Ali Aden, Maalim Ayman, and Mahad Karate on February 26. The US and Somali Federal Governments co-nominated the militants to be added to the UN’s sanction list on February 22.[vi]
[i] “Yemen Rebels Claim Saudi Strikes, Threaten New Attack,” Voice of America, February 28, 2021, https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/yemen-rebels-claim-saudi-strikes-threaten-new-attack; and Lauren Detter, Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 26, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 26, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-26-2021.
[ii] “Fronts of the outskirts in Marib… the continued depletion of the Houthi militia,” 26 Sep News, February 28, 2021, http://www.26sepnews.net/2021/02/28/%d8%ac%d8%a8%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a3%d8%b7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%81-%d9%85%d8%a3%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%b2%d8%a7%d9%81-%d9%85%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%85%d8%b1-%d9%84%d9%84%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%b4/; and “Yemeni strategic progress puts the aggression mercenaries’ stronghold in Marib,” Al Alam, February 27, 2021, https://www.alalamtv.net/news/5461978.
[iii] “Kenyan military bases in Kudhaa and Abdalla Birole attacked,” Somalimemo, March 1, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8204/Saldhigyada-ciidamada-Kenya-ee-Kudhaa-iyo-Cabdalla-Biroole-oo-la-weeraray; and “Al Shabaab attacks bases in southern Somalia,” Somalimemo, February 27, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8193/Al-Shabaab-oo-weeraray-saldhigyo-kuyaal-Koonfurta-Soomaaliya.
[iv] “DF security officials killed in Mogadishu,” Somalimemo, February 28, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8203/Saraakiil-katirsan-Nabad-Sugidda-DF-oo-Muqdisho-lagu-dilay; and “Al Shabaab targets Deputy Commander of DF,” Somalimemo, February 28, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8199/Al-Shabaab-oo-qarax-ku-beegsaday-Taliye-ku-xigeenka-ciidanka-Melleteriga-DF.
[v] “Kenyan security official killed in Sheikh Barrow area,” Somalimemo, February 27, 2021, http://somalimemo24.com/articles/8192/Sarkaal-katirsanaa-ciidanka-ammaanka-Kenya-oo-lagu-dilay-deegaanka-Sheekh-Barroow; and Lauren Detter, Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 26, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 26, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-26-2021.
[vi] “Security Council Sanctions Committee concerning Somalia Adds Three Entries to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations Security Council, February 26, 2021, https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/751/press-releases; and Lauren Detter, Amelia Frederking, ““Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 24, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 24, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-24-2021.
