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 claims to intercept al Houthi explosive-laden drone targeting Saudi Arabia; al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clash in Taiz governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab launches mortar targeting Mogadishu airport; al Shabaab targets SNA in Mogadishu; Jubbaland State security forces claim capturing al Shabaab intelligence official; AMISOM transfers security responsibilities for Lower Shabelle town to SNA troops
Yemen Security Brief:
The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept an al Houthi explosive-laden drone targeting Najran city in southern Saudi Arabia on March 26. The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept eight al Houthi explosive-laden drones targeting Najran and Jizan in southern Saudi Arabia on March 25.[i]
Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed along the al Loqoud front in al Masrakh district in southwestern Yemen’s Taiz governorate on March 26. Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed along the al Shaqab and al Faroush fronts of Taiz governorate on March 24.[ii]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab launched mortar toward Halane base at Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on March 25. Al Shabaab previously launched mortar toward Halane base in early March when Somali state representatives arrived for electoral talks.[iii]
Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device targeting a vehicle carrying a Somali National Army (SNA) officer in Daynile district in Mogadishu on March 25. Al Shabaab attacked SNA soldiers in Mogadishu on March 24.[iv]
Jubbaland State security forces claimed to capture an al Shabaab intelligence official in Kismayo in southern Somalia’s Lower Jubba region on March 25. Suspected al Shabaab militants killed SNA soldiers traveling in Lower Jubba region in early March.[v]
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces transferred security responsibilities to SNA troops in Afgoi town in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on March 24. Ugandan AMISOM troops left their base in Afgoi as part of the Somalia Transition Plan to eventually shift the responsibility for all Somali security operations to the SNA.[vi]
[i] “Saudi Defenses Destroy Houthi Ballistic Missile Fired at Najran,” Al Sharq al Awsat, March 26, 2021, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2883066/saudi-defenses-destroy-houthi-ballistic-missile-fired-najran; and “Coalition Destroys 8 Explosive-laden Drones Launched by Houthis,” Al Sharq al Awsat, March 25, 2021, https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2881626/coalition-destroys-8-explosives-laden-drones-launched-houthis.
[ii] “Taiz: The National Army is taking control of new locations and battles are raging in al Loquad,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, March 26, 2021, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/198792; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 24, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 24, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-24-2021.
[iii]“Somalia: Mortar attack kills at least 3 civilians,” Hiiraan, March 25, 2021, http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2021/Mar/182095/somalia_mortar_attack_kills_at_least_3_civilians.aspx; “Two killed in mortar bomb targeting UN compound in Mogadishu,” Goobjoog, March 25, 2021, https://goobjoog.com/english/two-killed-in-mortar-bomb-targeting-un-compound-in-mogadishu/; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 10, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 10, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-10-2021.
[iv] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Government official killed in Daynile district,” Somalimemo, March 25, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14441/Sarkaal-katirsan-ciidanka-dowladda-oo-lagu-dilay-degmada-Dayniile; and Liibaan Jeexoow, “Three security officers killed in Waberi district,” Somalimemo, March 24, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14437/Sedax-katirsan-ciidamada-Nabad-sugidda-oo-lagu-dilay-degmada-Waaberi.
[v] “Jubbaland captures al Shabaab intelligence chief in Kismayo, Radio Dalsan, March 25, 2021, https://www.radiodalsan.com/jubaland-oo-gacanta-ku-dhigtay-madaxii-macluumaadka-al-shabaab-ee-aagga-kismaayo/; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 5, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 5, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-5-2021.
[vi] “AMISOM hands over Afgoye military base to Somali National Army,” AMISOM, March 25, 2021, https://amisom-au.org/2021/03/amisom-hands-over-afgoye-military-base-to-somali-national-army/.
