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: Islamic State in Yemen claims attack on AQAP in al Bayda; Saudi-led coalition conducts airstrikes in Sana’a and Ma’rib
Horn of Africa: Suspected al Shabaab militants detonate IEDs on highways near Mogadishu; SFG security forces conduct operation against al Shabaab in Middle Shabelle region; US removes Eritrea from counterterrorism non-cooperation list
Yemen Security Brief
The Islamic State in Yemen claimed to attack al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants in governorate in central Yemen on May 28. The attack killed two AQAP fighters.[1]
The Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes on an al Houthi weapons depot at Daylami Air Force Base in Yemen’s capital on May 28. The coalition also conducted airstrikes against al Houthi positions in district in Ma’rib governorate in central Yemen on May 29.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Suspected al Shabaab militants detonated three improvised explosives devices (IEDs) along three highways in the vicinity of the Somali capital on May 29. The explosions targeted Somali National Army and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) vehicles, causing multiple casualties.[3]
Somali Federal Government (SFG) security forces killed four al Shabaab militants in district in Middle Shabelle region in central Somalia on May 28. The SFG stated that one of the militants was a senior commander but did not name the individual.[4]
The US government removed Eritrea from a list of countries deemed not to be cooperating fully with US counterterrorism efforts on May 28. The list includes Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela. The UN previously removed sanctions on Eritrea in November 2018 that it had imposed in response to Eritrea’s support for armed groups in the Horn of Africa.[5]
[1] Elisabeth Kendall, Twitter, May 29, 2019, https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1133680445642682369.
[2] Hesham Hajali, “Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit arms depots in Yemen’s capital -TV report,” Reuters, May 28, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/saudi-led-coalition-air-strikes-hit-arms-depots-in-yemeni-capital-tv-report-idUSKCN1SY2HU?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29&&rpc=401, and “Marib..Coalition fighters targeting Houthi communities in Sarawah,” 7adramawt, May 29, 2019, https://www.7adramout.net/yafa-news/2387844/%D9%85%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AD.html
[3] Harun Maruf, Twitter, May 29, 2019, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1133672370114367489.
[4] “Security forces kill 4 al-Shabab fighters in southern Somalia,” May 29, 2019, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1133672370114367489.
[5] “US Removing Eritrea from Counterterror Non-Cooperation List,” Associated Press, May 28, 2019, https://www.voanews.com/a/us-removing-eritrea-from-counterterror-non-cooperation-list/4935716.html; and “U.N. Security Council removes Eritrea sanctions after years,” Reuters, November 14, 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eritrea-sanctions-un/u-n-security-council-removes-eritrea-sanctions-after-years-idUSKCN1NJ28P.
