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 advances east of al Hazm; Hadi government forces claim repelling al Houthi attacks in al Hudaydah governorate
Horn of Africa: Tanzanian troops deploy to Mozambican border; Ethiopian troops reportedly prevent Kenyan troops from accessing plane crash site in Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi reportedly repelled attempted al Houthi militant advances east of al Hazm, the capital of al Jawf governorate in northern Yemen on May 7. Hadi government forces reported inflicting al Houthi casualties on the Khusha and Jaffar fronts east of al Hazm in early May. The al Houthi movement seized al Hazm from Saudi-backed Hadi government forces on March 1.[1]
Hadi government forces claimed repelling al Houthi attacks in Bayt al Faqih, Durayhimi, and Hays districts in al Hudaydah governorate in western Yemen on May 7. Hadi government forces previously reported destroying an al Houthi tank in al Hudaydah city on May 6.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Tanzanian security forces deployed to Mtwara region in southeastern Tanzania near the Mozambican border in March to contain security threats posed by Mozambican militia group Ahlu Sunna wa al Jama'a. Tanzania’s Minister of State claimed that Tanzania remains “generally calm.” The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCA) claimed an attack on a Mozambican military post in Macomia in Cabo Delgado region in northeastern Mozambique on May 5.[3]
Ethiopian security forces prevented Kenyan troops from accessing the site of a plane crash in southern Somalia on May 5, according to a Somali media outlet. A Kenyan airplane carrying coronavirus supplies crashed in Bardale in Bay region in southern Somalia on May 4. The cause of the crash remains unknown but witnesses reported that a rocket propelled grenade targeted the aircraft. Some local Somali sources have claimed that Ethiopian troops may have shot down the plane but an Ethiopian military official denied any involvement in the accident.[4]
[1] “Military Commander: Al-Houthi militia received severe blows in Al-Jouf and the bodies of dozens of its members in the deserts,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, May 7, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/165426; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security review- March 9, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 9, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-9-2020.
[2] “The combined forces repel painful Houthi militias in Al-Duraimi Directorate,” 7adramout, May 7, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/4MAY/7378341/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%85%D9%8A.html; “The joint forces repelled an Houthi infiltration attempt in Hays,” 7adramout, May 7, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7378271/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%B3.html; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 6, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 6, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-6-2020.
[3] Louis Kolumbia, “Tanzania Deploys Troops at the Mozambique Border,” The Citizen, May 7, 2020, https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/Tanzania-deploys-troops-at-the-Mozambique-border/1840340-5545056-g7fcil/index.html; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 6, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 6, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-6-2020.
[4] “Ethiopia blocks Kenya from accessing plane crash scene,” Hiiraan, May 6, 2020, https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2020/May/178044/ethiopia_blocks_kenya_from_accessing_plane_crash_scene.aspx; Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 6, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 6, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-6-2020; and Abuga Makori, “Cargo plane ‘shot down’ in Somalia, all occupants killed,” Garowe, May 5, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/a-cargo-plane-shot-down-in-somalia-all-on-board-are-dead.
