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 reportedly repel al Houthi attacks in al Bayda governorate; al Houthis reportedly shell neighborhoods in al Hudaydah governorate
Horn of Africa: Islamic State announces third round of its “Battle of Attrition” campaign; al Shabaab reportedly launches new offensive in Puntland State
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi reportedly repelled al Houthi attacks with support from Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Qaniya district in al Bayda governorate in central Yemen on May 14. Hadi government forces previously reported repelling an al Houthi attack in Qaniya on May 12.[1]
Al Houthi militants reportedly shelled residential neighborhoods in al Durayhimi district in al Hudaydah governorate in western Yemen on May 14. Hadi government forces previously claimed repelling al Houthi advances in al Tahita district in al Hudaydah governorate on May 13.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
The Islamic State launched a third round of its “Battle of Attrition” military campaign on May 14, claiming an attack on police in the Somali capital Mogadishu. The Islamic State in Somalia claimed it inflicted at least five casualties. The Islamic State launched the first and second rounds of its “Battle of Attrition” campaign in June and August 2019, respectively.[3]
Pro—al Shabaab media group Somalimemo claimed that al Shabaab targeted security forces in Bari region in northern Somalia’s Puntland State, killing at least two soldiers. Puntland State security forces reportedly foiled an Islamic State attack in Boosaaso in Bari region on May 9, killing at least two militants. [4]
[1] “Al-Bayda .. The latest developments in the fighting between the army and the Houthis,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, May 15, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/166161; “Yemen .. Houthi ranks losses in coalition air strikes north of Al-Bayda Governorate,” 7adramout, May 15, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/yafa-news/7385092/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%A1.html; and Kalissa Azooz and Muhammad Ramadhito, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 12, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 12, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-12-2020.
[2] “Hawser al-Houthi is chasing the residents of Al-Duraimi,” 7adramout, May 15, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7385079/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%82-%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%85%D9%8A.html; and Kalissa Azooz and Muhammad Ramadhito, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-13-2020.
[3] “IS Launches 3rd Wave of ‘Battle of Attrition” with Attacks in Iraq, Somalia, and Syria,” SITE Intelligence Group, May 14, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[4] Liibaan Jeexoow Cabdi, “Somalia: Attack on Bossaso and Barre Bases,” Somalimemo, May 14, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/12963/Weeraro-Askar-lagu-dilay-oo-ka-dhacay-duleedyada-Boosaaso-iyo-Bariire; and Kalissa Azooz and Muhammad Ramadhito, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 11, 2020,“ Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 11, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-11-2020.
