Gulf of Aden Security Review

Yemen:  Saudi-led coalition claims intercepting two al Houthi drones targeting Saudi Arabia; Hadi government–aligned forces claim intercepting al Houthi surveillance drone in al Jawf governorate; al Houthis launch missiles targeting Ma’rib city

Horn of Africa: IS claims prison raid in DRC as part of IS campaign; Mozambican security forces allegedly conduct counterterror operation in Cabo Delgado province; SNA forces reportedly attack al Shabaab in Bay region; al Shabaab claims attack on Jubbaland State forces in Lower Jubba region; NISA releases journalist detained for interviewing Somali man critical of SFG with alleged ties to al Shabaab

Yemen Security Brief:

The Saudi-led coalition claimed intercepting two al Houthi drones targeting Saudi Arabia on October 23. Coalition forces previously claimed intercepting an al Houthi drone in mid-October.^[1]

Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi claimed intercepting an al Houthi surveillance drone in Khub wa al Shaf district in northern Yemen’s al Jawf governorate on October 22. Hadi government–aligned forces and al Houthi militants have clashed in al Jawf governorate throughout October.^[2]

Al Houthi forces reportedly launched several unspecified missiles targeting the capital of central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on October 23. Al Houthi militants previously launched a ballistic missile targeting Ma’rib governorate in mid-September.^[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

The Islamic State claimed on October 21 that the militant prison raid in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is part of the Islamic State’s “Answer the Call” campaign. This campaign calls for the group’s supporters to free Islamic State militants detained in prisons. The Islamic State claimed that its Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCA) conducted the large-scale prison raid in the DRC on October 20.[4]

Mozambican security forces reportedly killed 270 insurgents in the country’s northern Cabo Delgado province between October 16 to 18 . Several domestic and international organizations have accused Mozambique’s government of suppressing information about the Islamist insurgency in Cabo Delgado.[5]

Somali National Army (SNA) forces ambushed al Shabaab militants near Dinsor town in southern Somalia’s Bay region on October 22. SNA forces killed nineteen militants during a clearing operation, according to an SNA official. SNA and South Western State security forces carried out a joint operation targeting al Shabaab in Dinsor town in mid-October.[6]

Al Shabaab militants reportedly ambushed a convoy of Jubbaland State troops outside of Kismayo city in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia on October 23. The militants killed two Jubbaland State soldiers, according to pro–al Shabaab media. Al Shabaab militants reportedly attacked a Kenyan military base in Lower Jubba region in late September.[7]

Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) released a journalist on October 22 after he withdrew a controversial interview that caused his detention. NISA officers detained the journalist for interviewing a Somali businessman critical of the Somali Federal Government and with alleged ties to al Shabaab on October 17.[8]