Gulf of Aden Security Review - October 5, 2009

Yemen: Police arrest al-Houthi rebels in western province of Hodeida; five injured in southern Yemen during protests and al-Houthi rebels release video of downed plane; head mediator between the government and al-Houthi rebels on top of government weapons dealers blacklist; President Saleh met with Admiral William McRaven to discuss partnership against al-Qaeda

Horn of Africa: Clashes broke out between al-Shabaab and Hizb al-Islam in southern Somalia; in Mogadishu, al-Shabaab imposes strict rules; a member of Hizb al-Islam's administration was assassinated in Beledweyn; FBI warns that al-Shabaab may attack U.S.; the EU suspended delivery of funds to AU

Yemen Security Brief

• Police in the western province of Hodeida arrested al-Houthi rebels traveling in a car near the city of Bajil in addition to confiscating their weapons.� In Sa'ada, the government has announced the arrest of sixteen more al-Houthi rebels.[1]

• Five people were injured during protests in southern Yemen.� Hundreds of supporters of the Southern Movement marched together to demand the release of those arrested during last Wednesday's demonstrations.� In the north, al-Houthi rebels have released a video showing the wreckage of the fighter plane that went down last Friday surrounded by men saying, "Allahu akbar."� The video showed the pilot's identification card and a parachute he had used to escape the plane; however, his fate is not clear.[2]

• Over forty al-Houthi rebels were killed in Sa'ada over the past 24 hours.� Military sources report that of thirty killed in clashes around al-Makash and Tho Sulaiman near Sa'ada city, five were field leaders.� Ten others were killed in a fight between rebels and tribesmen in al-Ghalah as rebels attempted to convert civilian farms into military positions.[3]

• Faris Mana'a, the chief mediator between the al-Houthi rebels and the government, is on top of a blacklist of arms dealers that was released by the government.� The government has announced that anyone who traded with those on the blacklist would face penalties.[4]

• The head of the U.S. Special Operations Command, Admiral William McRaven, met with President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Sunday to discuss a U.S.-Yemeni partnership in the fight against al-Qaeda.� The deteriorating security situation in Yemen coupled with the humanitarian conditions have placed a strain on the government's capabilities, creating space in which al-Qaeda could operate.[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Recent clashes between Hizb al-Islam and al-Shabaab have broken out in Janaa Abdalla and Bulo Gadud in southern Somalia.� Sheikh Mohamed Moallim Ali, Hizb al-Islam's information secretary, told the VOA Somali Service that al-Shabaab should stop its attacks.[6]

• Al-Shabaab imposed strict rules regarding prayer, veiling, and treatment of animals In the Banadir region of Mogadishu.[7]

• In Beledweyn, seven unknown gunmen killed Sheikh Aden Abdisamal Abdi, a member of Hizb al-Islam's administration in the Hiraan region.� Sheikh Aden previously served as the social affairs secretary for the Hiraan region, but defected to Hizb al-Islam when Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow announced his support for Hizb al-Islam.[8]

• FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that it is possible that al-Shabaab will attack the U.S.� Mueller expressed concern over American citizens training in Somalia and then returning to the U.S. to carry out terrorist attacks.[9]

• The European Union suspended funding of AU peacekeepers in Somalia because of delays within the AU to account for past funds.� Over 1,500 soldiers will have been without pay for three months now.[10]

�