Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen: IS-Yemen pledges allegiance to new IS caliph; Yemeni Army interdicts anti-tank missiles bound for the Houthis

Somalia: AFRICOM drone strike targets al Shabaab base in central Somalia; al Shabaab raids a construction site in southeastern Kenya; SNA Gorgor forces ambush al Shabaab in southern Somalia; IS-S pledges allegiance to new IS caliph; US warns of additional visa sanctions on Somali leaders if lower house elections miss March 15 deadline

Yemen Security Brief:

The Islamic State published photos of Islamic State-Yemen fighters pledging allegiance to the Islamic State’s new caliph on March 12.[i]

The Yemeni Army interdicted 54 Iranian-built anti-tank missiles likely bound for the Houthis at the Shahn border crossing, al Mahra governorate, Yemen, on March 12.[ii] The missiles were smuggled into Yemen via Oman.

Somalia Security Brief:

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted a drone attack targeting an al Shabaab base in Hareeri-gubadle, El Buur district, Galgadud region, central Somalia, on March 13.[iii] Somali officials claimed the attack killed at least 200 al Shabaab militants.

Al Shabaab raided a construction site in Majengo, Lamu County, southeastern Kenya, on March 11.[iv] Al Shabaab killed six Kenyan workers and one Chinese construction worker.

Somali National Army (SNA) Turkish-trained Gorgor special forces ambushed al Shabaab in Mubarak, Qoryoley district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on March 13.[v] SNA officials claim they killed 25 al Shabaab militants and wounded 35 more. Al Shabaab claimed they repulsed the attack and killed 11 soldiers.[vi]

Islamic State-Somalia pledged allegiance to the new Islamic State caliph, Abu al Hassan al Hashimi al Quraishi, in a statement on March 12.[vii]

US Ambassador to Somalia Larry André warned on March 14 the United States would impose additional visa sanctions on Somali leaders if  lower house elections miss the March 15 deadline.[viii]