Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 20, 2009

Yemen: A surprise rebel-attack on an airport where arms are stored killed at least 80, primarily soldiers, in Razeh; Yemen denies Saudi involvement in northern conflict; Yemeni court sentences ten al-Houthi rebels to death, five to fifteen-year prison term; Yemen's Foreign Minister announced willingness of government to participate in conditional talks

Horn of Africa: Al-Shabaab downs U.S. drone over Kismayo; Somali president calls for national dialogue; AU vehicle hit by landmine in Mogadishu; Somali pirates threaten to execute Chinese sailors

Yemen Security Brief

• At least eighty people, primarily soldiers, were killed in battles between government forces and al-Houthi rebels.� Military sources report that the rebels launched a surprise attack on the Razeh airport, which stores a six-month store of arms.� Government reinforcements are due to arrive in the area.� In Harf Sufyan, over fifty pro-government volunteer fighters from local tribes have been killed in clashes with al-Houthi rebels.[1]

• The Yemeni Defense Ministry has denied allegations levied by al-Houthi rebels that Saudi Arabian artillery hit al-Husama Market in western Sa'ada province.� In a statement, the Ministry said that these allegations indicated that the rebels have a sense of imminent defeat and are seeking "to justify it by speaking about Saudi interference."[2]

• A Yemeni special court convicted another fifteen al-Houthi rebels of "associating with an armed group for criminal purposes," "creating an organized terrorist group," and "(armed) resistance to the authorities."� Ten of them received the death sentence and the remainder received a sentence of fifteen years in prison.� In court, the rebels greeted the decision by chanting, "Death to America," "Death to Israel," "A curse on the Jews," and "Victory for Islam."[3]

• In Cairo, Yemen's Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi stated that the government is prepared to hold conditional talks with the al-Houthi rebels to listen to grievances, but will not discuss any separatist demands.� "There will never be dialogue with those calling for separation," he declared.� Al-Qirbi added that the government seeks negotiations with all factions "under the umbrella of unity."[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al-Shabaab militants claimed to have downed a U.S. drone over the southern port-city of Kismayo.� Spokesman of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, Lieutenant Nathan Christensen, said all "unmanned aerial vehicles had been safely recovered."[5]

• Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has called for unconditional political dialogue with the rebels.� The president has also accused both al-Shabaab and Hizb al-Islam of being al-Qaeda proxies.[6]

• An AU peacekeeping vehicle hit a landmine near Kulliyada Jalle Si'ad in Mogadishu, which damaged the vehicle in the blast.� Reports add that Islamist fighters and Burundian soldiers fought following the incident.� Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.[7]

• Somali pirates have said that if China attempts to rescue 25 Chinese crewmembers aboard a hijacked bulk carrier they will execute the crew.� Despite increased monitoring of shipping lanes, pirates continue to operate in the waters off the coast of Somalia.� In addition to the Chinese carrier, they have captured, among other ships, a Singaporean container ship and a Spanish fishing boat.[8]