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 kill senior al Houthi commander between Ma’rib and al Bayda governorates; Hadi government forces reportedly repel al Houthi attacks in Ma’rib governorate; al Houthis reportedly attack Hadi government forces in al Hudaydah governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab reportedly clashes with SNA in southeastern Somalia; al Shabaab claims attack on SNA base in southeastern Somalia; AMISOM reiterates commitment to Somali mission during COVID-19
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi killed a senior al Houthi commander in clashes between Ma’rib and al Bayda governorates in central Yemen on May 7. The al Houthi commander, Mohamed Abdel Karim al Hamran, maintained close ties with al Houthi movement leader Abdul Malik al Houthi and commanded an elite special forces brigade trained by Lebanese Hezbollah.[1]
Hadi government forces reportedly repelled al Houthi attacks in Sirwah in Ma’rib governorate in northern Yemen on May 8, killing an al Houthi official. Saudi-led coalition forces launched airstrikes on al Houthi militants in Sirwah in late April.[2]
Al Houthi militants reportedly launched multiple attacks on Hadi government forces in al Saleh city and Hays district in al Hudaydah governorate in western Yemen on May 8. Hadi government forces previously reported repelling al Houthi attacks in Hays district on May 7.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Pro-al Shabaab media outlet Somalimemo reported clashes between al Shabaab and Somali National Army (SNA) forces in Afgoi district in Lower Shabelle in southeastern Somalia on May 6. SNA forces claimed clearing several al Shabaab roadside bombs in Afgoi district in late April.[4]
Al Shabaab claimed attacking an SNA base in Barire in Lower Shabelle region on May 5. The SNA claimed repelling an al Shabaab attack on the same SNA base on May 3.[5]
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) released a statement on May 5 reiterating its commitment to its mission in Somalia during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMISOM claimed that it has implemented preventative measures to contain the virus. An AMISOM hospital successfully treated its first COVID-19 patient in March. [6]
[1] Ahmed al Haj, “Senior rebel commander killed in Yemen amid fierce battles,” Associated Press, May 7, 2020, https://apnews.com/e271d9b3b908a26010a7217d51ac94b1; and “Majestic funeral of martyr Al-Hamran in Sanaa,” 26sep, May 7, 2020, https://26sep.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=174546.
[2] “Houthi leader killed after violent clashes with the army on the Sirwah front,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, May 8, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/165579; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-27-2020.
[3] “Houthi fierce shelling targeted the homes of citizens in the city of Hays,” Adnlng, May 8, 2020, http://adnlng.info/news/145503/; “Separate Houthi attacks on Al-Saleh, Hodeidah,” 7adramout, May 8, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7379082/%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9.html; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Kalissa Azooz, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 7, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, May 7, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-7-2020
[4] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Al Shabaab claims responsibility for attack in Afgoi,” Somalimemo, May 8, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/12915/Al-Shabaab-oo-sheegatay-Masuuliyay-Weerar-lagu-dilay-madaxii-Ciyaaraha-degmada-Afgooye; and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – April 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-27-2020.
[5] “Shabaab Claims Executing Spy for U.S. Intel, Waging Multiple Attacks on SNA, AMISOM, and Kenyan Forces,” SITE Intelligence Group, May 8, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Muhammad Ramadhito and Jessica Kocan, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 4, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-may-4-2020.
[6] AMISOM, “AMISOM not leaving anything to chance in Covid-19 fight,” AMISOM-AU, May 5, 2020, https://amisom-au.org/wp-content/cache/page_enhanced/amisom-au.org/2020/05/amisom-not-leaving-anything-to-chance-in-covid-19-fight/_index.html_gzip.
