Gulf of Aden Security Review - December 8, 2014

Yemen: U.S. attempts raid to free American journalist Luke Somers in Shabwah; five IEDs target al Houthis in capital Sana’a; Southern Movement gunmen kidnap five soldiers in al Dhaleh

Horn of Africa: Suspected al Shabaab militants detonate explosives at restaurant in Bay region; Somali Prime Minister resigns after vote of no confidence; al Shabaab gunmen assassinate official in Bay region

Yemen Security Brief

• United States Navy Seal Team 6 commandos attempted to rescue American journalist Luke Somers, held hostage by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) since September 2013, on December 6 in Abdan, Shabwah. AQAP militants were alerted to the operation when U.S. forces were approximately 100 yards from the compound in which Luke Somers was held. AQAP militants then shot Luke Somers and another South African hostage, Pierre Korkie, mortally wounding both. The Yemeni government stated that ten AQAP members were killed during the operation, including a local AQAP commander Jamal Mubarak al Harad al Daghari al Awlaki.[1] 

• Suspected AQAP militants detonated five roadside improvised explosive devices (IED) targeting al Houthi fighters in Sana’a on December 8, wounding eight people. Yemeni security forces dismantled another two separate IEDs also in Sana’a.[2] 

• Gunmen suspected of belonging to the Southern Movement kidnapped five soldiers on December 8 in Naqil al Rabadh in al Dhaleh. The militants demanded the release of a southern activist who had recently been arrested on charges of weapons possession.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Review

• Suspected al Shabaab militants detonated a suicide vest and vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) at a restaurant in Baidoa, Bay region on December 5, killing 15 civilians and wounding 30 others.[4]

• Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed resigned on December 6, accepting the result of a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister by the Somali Federal Parliament. Parliament voted 153-80 in support of a vote of no confidence during a December 6 session.[5]

• Suspected al Shabaab gunmen shot and killed the mayor of Burhakaba, Bay region on December 6. Separately, al Shabaab militants suspended the operations of Hormud Telecommunication services in multiple towns in Bay region on December 7. Hormud reportedly halted its services after orders from the militant group.[6]