Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 13, 2015

Yemen: Al Houthi delegation to Tehran announces that Iran will give Yemen aid in developing power infrastructure throughout the country; Special Security Forces arrest three suspected members of an Ansar al Sharia cell in Lahij

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks Kenyan government convoy in North East province; suspected U.S. airstrike kills senior al Shabaab member in Gedo region

Yemen Security Brief

• The al Houthi delegation to Iran led by Saleh al Samad returned to Yemen on March 12 and released details of economic cooperation between Yemen and Iran. Iran will reportedly send teams to Yemen to help revamp Yemeni infrastructure, focusing on power plants in Ma’rib, al Hudaydah, Sana’a, and Aden. Iran will also reportedly help renovate Yemen’s sea port in al Hudaydah and help Yemen meet its oil needs for the next year.[1]

• Special Security Forces (SSF) arrested three suspected Ansar al Sharia members in al Duba’a, Lahij on March 12. Security forces believe that their captives are part of a cell responsible for the increased number of assassinations in Lahij over the past two weeks.[2]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab militants attacked a convoy carrying the Governor of Mandera while he was traveling to Mandera, North East Province, Kenya on March 13. While the governor escaped unharmed, at least three people were killed in the attack. Al Shabaab later claimed responsibility for the attack.[3]

• A suspected U.S. airstrike killed al Shabaab militants near the town of Bardhere, Gedo region on March 12. It has been reported that one of the three militants killed was Adan Garar, who allegedly was a senior al Shabaab member and helped plan the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Kenya.[4]