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: US drone strike likely kills AQAP operative in Yemen; Islamic State in Yemen claims bombing al Houthi vehicle in al Bayda governorate; Hadi government forces claim advancing in Sana’a governorate’s Nihm district; Hadi government aligned forces claim killing al Houthi militants in al Bayda governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks Kenyan police in eastern Kenya; SNA arrests suspected al Shabaab militant in central Somalia; unclaimed explosion targets Somali police in Mogadishu; AFRICOM strike in southern Somalia allegedly inflicts civilian casualties; SNA claims KDF bombed civilians in Gedo region
The Gulf of Aden Security Review will be published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays going forward.
Yemen Security Brief:
The US drone strike that targeted a high-ranking al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) official in northern Yemen on May 13 reportedly killed AQAP operative Abdullah al Maliki, according to SITE Intelligence Group’s director. Abdullah al Maliki, an associate of the December 2019 Pensacola shooter, was active in AQAP’s al Malahem Media Foundation. His death coincided with a halt in AQAP’s online distribution of its Ramadan lecture series. The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on May 18 that the US recently conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen targeting Maliki.[1]
The Islamic State in Yemen claimed bombing an al Houthi militant vehicle in Qayfa district in al Bayda governorate in central Yemen on May 17. The Islamic State in Yemen last claimed an attack on al Houthi militants in early March.[2]
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi claimed advancing in Nihm district in Sana’a governorate in northern Yemen on May 19. Hadi government forces claimed capturing multiple al Houthi sites after attacking al Houthi militants. Hadi government forces claimed capturing an al Houthi commander in Nihm district on May 18.[3]
Hadi government-backed forces claimed killing an al Houthi official and several al Houthi militants in Qaniya district in al Bayda governorate on May 19. Hadi government forces previously claimed repelling al Houthi attacks in Qaniya district on May 14.[4]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab attacked Kenyan police in eastern Kenya’s Garissa County on May 18, reportedly inflicting zero casualties. A police vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device after which police and al Shabaab militants exchanged gunfight. Kenyan Special Forces reportedly killed six al Shabaab militants and captured one in Jirole in Garissa County in mid-March. [5]
The Somali National Army (SNA) reportedly arrested a suspected al Shabaab militant in Wargalo in central Somalia’s Mudug region. Al Shabaab claimed a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack in Galkayo in Mudug region on May 17, killing Mudug’s regional governor and three of his bodyguards.[6]
A roadside explosion targeting a Somali police vehicle killed one officer and injured three others near Banadir junction in the Somali capital Mogadishu on May 20. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al Shabaab claimed attacking a Somali police vehicle in Mogadishu’s Dharkenley district in early May.[7]
A US Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrike allegedly inflicted civilian casualties near Qunyo Barrow in southern Somalia’s Middle Jubba region on May 17, according to a local Somali media outlet. AFRICOM conducted this airstrike targeting al Shabaab, killing two militants, and has not yet responded to this allegation. AFRICOM released an investigative report detailing civilian airstrike casualties in Somalia in late April.[8]
The SNA claimed on May 18 that Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) “indiscriminately” bombed Somali civilians in Gedo region in southern Somalia along the Kenyan—Somali border. The SNA claimed the attacks took place over several weeks. An SNA commander called the situation “unacceptable,” noting the KDF’s “endless aggression.” A Kenyan regional administrator warned the SNA not to provoke the KDF in late April.[9]
[1] “AQAP Official Abdullah Al-Maliki, Targeted in US Airstrike in Yemen, was Associate of Pensacola Shooter,” SITE Intelligence Group, May 18, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-18-2020.
[2] Elisabeth Kendall, Twitter, May 19, 2020, https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1262829584711593986; and Elisabeth Kendall, Twitter, March 15, 2020, https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1239234284814241793.
[3] “Yemen News - The Yemeni Army is making new progress in ‘Naham’, east of Sanaa,” 7adramout, May 20, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/al-ain/7389667/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86---%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%B5%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A1.html; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-18-2020.
[4] “Houthi field leader and a number of its members were killed in al-Bayda,” Khabar Agency, May 20, 2020, https://www.khabaragency.net/news126585.html; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 15, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 15, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-15-2020
[5] Farhiya Hussein, “Police repulse suspected Shabaab militants in Garissa,” Nation, May 19, 2020, https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/garissa/Police-fight-Shabaab-suspects-in-Garissa/3444784-5557100-brbvtf/index.html; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-13-2020.
[6] “SNA conduct exclusive operation in wargalo, Mudug region,” Goobjoog, May 19, 2020, http://goobjoog.com/english/sna-conduct-exclusive-operations-in-wargalo-mudug-region/; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-18-2020.
[7] “Roadside explosion kills a policeman in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu,” Goobjoog, May 20, 2020, http://goobjoog.com/english/roadside-explosion-kills-a-policeman-in-somalias-capital-mogadishu/; and “Shabaab Claims Shelling Halane Base Camp 2 Weeks After Last Strike, Allegedly Inflicting 14 Casualties,“ SITE Intelligence Group, May 14, 2020, available by subscription on www.siteintelgroup.com.
[8] “US airstrike raid civilians in Somalia,” Goobjoog, May 19, 2020, http://goobjoog.com/english/us-airstrike-raid-civilians-in-somalia/; Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 18, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 18, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-18-2020; and United States Africa Command, “Initial AFRICOM Civilian Casualty Assessment Quarterly Report,” United States Africa Command, April 27, 2020, https://www.africom.mil/civilian-casualty-report-and-allegations.
[9] Abuga Makori, “Somalia: The SNA threatens revenge on KDF over alleged bombings in Gedo,” Garowe, May 20, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somalia-sna-threatens-revenge-on-kdf-over-alleged-bombings-in-gedo; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 28, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 28, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-28-2020.
