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: Major Houthi-ROYG clashes in Ma’rib; U.S. Ambassador to Yemen meets with PLC member al Arada; thousands of residents in Houthi-controlled Ibb governorate protest death of activist
Somalia: Turkish-trained Somali special police forces cleared an al Shabaab headquarters in Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief
Major Houthi—Yemeni government (ROYG) military clashes resulted in 16 killed and 20 wounded soldiers of both sides on the Harib front, Ma’rib governorate, northern Yemen on March 22.[i] Al Mashhad al Yemeni reported that ROYG forces killed the commander of Houthi operations on the Harib front amidst the clashes.[ii]
U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin met with Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member and Ma’rib Governor Sultan al Arada on March 23 to discuss the escalating Houthi–Yemeni government (ROYG) clashes including in the Harib district, Ma’rib governorate, northern Yemen.[iii]
Thousands of civilians in Houthi-controlled Ibb governorate demonstrated on the streets on March 23 in protest of the killing of a political activist in a Houthi prison. The detained activist publicly criticized Houthi leader Abdul Malik al Houthi.[iv] Al Mashhad al Yemeni reported that the Houthis responded to the protests by cutting off internet access to Ibb residents and detaining several participants of the protests on March 24.[v]
Somalia Security Brief
Turkish-trained Somali special police forces cleared an al Shabaab headquarters in Deynile district, Mogadishu region, southern Somalia, on March 23.[vi]
[i] Ahmed al Haj, “Yemen: Fighting kills 16, endangering peace efforts,” March 22, 2023, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/yemen-fighting-truce-marib-houthi-peace-df1636fc946f8ddf1b613cb5d8377262
[ii] Al Mashhad al Yemeni, “The leader of the Houthi militia was killed in Harib, 17 combat units annihilated, and strategic locations were taken control of – video,” March 23, 2023, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/251798
[iii] September 26 Newspaper (ROYG), “Al-Arada discusses with the US ambassador the current challenges and the ongoing Houthi escalation,” March 23, 2023, https://www.26sepnews.net/2023/03/24/1-10202/
[iv] Muammar al Eryani, @ERYANIM, March 23, 2023, Twitter, https://twitter.com/ERYANIM/status/1638973250536370195?s=20
[v] Al Mashhad al Yemeni, “The Houthis militia is taking revenge on the people of Ibb, following the chants that made its leader mad during the funeral of al Mukhal,” March 24, 2023, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/251867
[vi] Radio Risaala, “Fighting in Mogadishu between Harammad Police and Al-Shabaab,” March 24,2023, https://radiorisaala.com/dagaal-muqdisho-ku-dhexmaray-ciidamo-katirsan-booliska-haramcad-al-shabaab/
