Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 24, 2015

Yemen: Al Houthi forces clash with pro-Hadi forces in al Dhaleh; U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar announces peace talks in Doha, Qatar; al Houthis seize town in Lahij from pro-Hadi forces

Horn of Africa: Security operation in Middle Shabelle region; AMISOM forces withdraw from towns in Lower Shabelle region; Kenya announces increased security along Somali border

Yemen Security Brief

• Special Security Forces (SSF) and al Houthi militants entered al Dhaleh governorate from Ibb on March 24. The al Houthi-allied SSF forces clashed with pro-Hadi militias in Sanah, al Dhaleh. Six al Houthis militants and two pro-Hadi militants died in the fighting.[1]

• U.N. envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar announced on March 23 that Yemeni peace talks will be held in Doha, Qatar. Benomar did not say what date the talks would begin, but confirmed that any agreement from the Doha talks would ultimately be signed in Saudi Arabia. It is unclear if the al Houthi movement agreed to participate in the negotiations.[2]

• Al Houthi militants seized the town of Kirsh in northern Lahij on March 24 following heavy fighting with pro-Hadi forces. There are no casualty reports available from the conflict.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Somali security forces supported by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces launched a security operation in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle region on March 24. The operation reportedly comes after recent al Shabaab activity in the area.[4]

• AMISOM forces withdrew from the villages of Aw Dheegle and Bartire, both in Lower Shabelle region on March 24. Somali National Army (SNA) forces remain in the villages to continue anti-al Shabaab operations.[5]

• Kenya announced that it would increase security along its border with Somalia on March 23. This includes the construction of roads running the length of the border for security forces to patrol, an increased presence of security forces at border crossings, and the creation of buffer zones. This comes after al Shabaab recently conducted three attacks in Kenya within one week.[6]