Yemen: Senior AQAP religious officials dies after airstrike; Ansar al Sharia kills five soldiers in VBIED attack in al Bayda; unidentified militants clash with security forces in Aden

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab robs civilians in Lower Jubba region; al Shabaab releases video portraying the life of militants

Yemen Security Brief

  • Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a statement on February 5 stating that a suspected U.S. airstrike on January 31 in Shabwah killed senior religious leader Harith bin Ghazi al Nadhari along with three other AQAP members.[1]
  • Suspected Ansar al Sharia militants detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) on February 4 targeting the 26th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in al Sawadiyah, al Bayda. Five soldiers died in the attack.[2]
  • Unidentified militants clashed with security forces in Mansoura, Aden on February 5. The militants, likely members of Ansar al Sharia or the Southern Movement, wounded four soldiers in the fighting.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

  • Suspected al Shabaab militants stole livestock and kidnapped civilians on February 5 in Badade, Lower Jubba region.[4]
  • Al Shabaab released a video on February 2. The video titled “From the Frontlines of Honor” portrays the daily life of al Shabaab fighters.[5]
[1] “Senior leader of al Qaeda Harith Nadhari killed,” Barakish, February 5, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=279031
“US bombing of muhajideen in Yemen,” AQAP Twitter Account, February 5, 2015. 
[2] “Death toll rises in VBIED in front of 26th Brigdae in al Bayda,” al Mashad al Yemeni, February 5, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/news46778.html
“Five soldiers killed in suicide bombing,” Akhbar al Yemen,” February 5, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: sabanews.net
[3] “Four soldiers wounded in fighting with unidentified gunmen in Mansoura Aden,” al Masdar, February 5, 2015 [Arabic]. Available: http://almasdaronline.com/article/67571
[4] “Al-Shabaab accused of looting livestock from pastoralists in lower Jubba,” Bar Kulan, February 5. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2015/02/05/al-shabaab-accused-of-looting-livestock-from-pastoralists-in-lower-jubba/
[5] “Shabaab Video Portrays Life of Fighters in Battlefield as Positive, Promotes Jihad,” SITE, February 4. Available: https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Multimedia/shabaab-video-portrays-life-of-fighters-in-battlefield-as-positive-promotes-jihad.html
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