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: Anti-al Houthi media accuses al Houthis of attacking UN checkpoint in al Hudaydah; US Secretary of Defense travels to Saudi Arabia
Horn of Africa: SNA boat capsizes off Somali coast; al Shabaab claims to temporarily seize village in Lower Jubba region; suspected al Shabaab militants assassinate elder near Mogadishu
Yemen Security Brief
Anti-al Houthi media accused al Houthi forces of attacking a UN checkpoint in port city in western Yemen on October 22. The UN installed four checkpoints in al Hudaydah on October 19 in an effort to enforce the 2018 UN-brokered Stockholm Agreement, which calls for the demilitarization of the port city.[1]
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper arrived in , Saudi Arabia on October 21 to meet with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Secretary Esper is expected to discuss regional security, including the situation in Yemen and US support for the Saudi-led coalition.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
A boat carrying Somali National Army (SNA) troops capsized off the coast of along Somalia’s southern coastline on October 21. Four soldiers are missing. Al Shabaab claimed that its militants had ambushed the boat, but the Somali Federal Government ruled it an accident.[3]
Al Shabaab claimed to ambush SNA troops and temporarily seize Daqalmow village on the outskirts of Dhobley town in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia on October 21.[4]
Suspected al Shabaab militants assassinated a prominent clan elder near a checkpoint in on the outskirts of Mogadishu on October 20.[5]
Visit our Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia storystreams.
[1] “Houthi Militias Target a Ceasefire Monitoring Point in Hodeidah,” Mareb Press, October 22, 2019, https://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=156815; “Report: Houthi Militias Continue to Violate the Hudaydah Truce… in Conjunction with the Installation of Points of Engagement,” Adenlang, October 22, 2019, https://adnlng.info/news/129706/.
[2] “Pentagon Chief Visits Saudi Arabia as Tensions Simmer with Iran,” Reuters, October 21, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi/pentagon-chief-visits-saudi-arabia-as-tensions-simmer-with-iran-idUSKBN1X01O7?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29.
[3] Makori, Abuga, “Four soldiers feared dead as boat capsizes in southern Somalia,” Garowe, October 22, 2019, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/four-soldiers-feared-dead-as-boat-capsizes-in-southern-somalia; “Shabaab claims maritime attack on Somali troops, ‘Special Operation’ on Somali Special forces officer,” SITE Intelligence Group, October 21, 2019, English translation available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[4] “Shabaab claims maritime attack on Somali troops, ‘Special Operation’ on Somali Special forces officer,” SITE Intelligence Group, October 21, 2019, English translation available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[5] “Gunmen kill prominent elders in separate attacks in Afgoye, Kismayo,” Somali Affairs, October 21, 2019, https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/gunmen-kill-prominent-elders-in-separate-attacks-in-afgoye-kismayo/.
