Gulf of Aden Security Review - August 10, 2016

Yemen: Al Houthi-Saleh forces fire two ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia; Hadi government forces advance in Nihm district, Sana’a governorate; al Houthi-Saleh Supreme Political Council leader blames failed UN peace talks for escalation; President Hadi blames al Houthis for war

Horn of Africa: SNA drives al Shabaab from town near Jowhar, Middle Shabelle region; suspected al Shabaab militants conduct grenade attack in Bakara Market, Mogadishu; warplanes strike al Shabaab positions in Jilib town, Middle Jubba region

Yemen Security Brief

• Al Houthi-Saleh forces fired two ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia on August 10. The missiles targeted Abha city and the Khamis Mushait military base in southern Saudi Arabia. Saudi air defenses intercepted the missiles. Pro-al Houthi media identified one of the missiles as a “Qaher-1” ballistic missile. Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ahmed al Asiri said that a falling missile killed one civilian and wounded three others in Samitah, Jazan province, Saudi Arabia.[1]

• Yemeni military forces advanced in Nihm, northeast of Sana’a city on August 9. These areas include Mt. al Qatab, Mt. al Madfun, and al Hawl. Forces loyal to President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government launched an offensive on August 6 in Nihm district in an effort to seize control of a main road leading into Sana’a city.[2]

• Saleh al Samad, President of the new al Houthi-General People’s Congress Supreme Political Council, stated that the UN is responsible for the escalation of the Yemen conflict because of the collapse of the UN-led peace talks on August 6. Al Samad accused the UN of tacit compliance with the Saudi-led coalition’s air campaign. The coalition resumed airstrikes on Sana’a city on August 9.[3]

• President Hadi blamed the al Houthis for causing Yemen’s civil war and inciting sectarianism in a statement on August 9. He met with the Prime Minister of the UAE, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the Emirati Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces on August 9. President Hadi also met with the American and British ambassadors to Yemen on August 10.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Somali National Army (SNA) forces drove al Shabaab fighters from a village located near Jowhar in Middle Shabelle region on August 10. SNA forces attacked the militants as part of a larger clearing campaign in the region. Both sides suffered multiple casualties.[5]

• A suspected al Shabaab militant conducted a grenade attack in Bakara Market in Mogadishu on August 9. The blast killed at least two individuals, including one SNA soldier, and wounded one civilian.[6]

• Unidentified warplanes struck al Shabaab outposts near Jilib town in Middle Jubba region on August 10. Al Shabaab militants torched vehicles in Jilib on August 9 when the militants suspected aircraft were tracking their positions.[7]