Gulf of Aden Security Review - December 27, 2016

Yemen: AQAP and ISIS target al Houthi-Saleh forces in central Yemen; AQAP militants attack Emirati-backed counterterrorism forces in southern Yemen; Hadi government forces seize territory in Shabwah governorate; Hadi government and popular resistance forces clash with al Houthi-Saleh forces in Nihm district, Sana’a governorate

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks security forces in southern Somalia; al Shabaab assassinates military prosecutor in Puntland; Somali presidential elections delayed; Jubbaland security forces attack al Shabaab base in Lower Jubba Region; al Shabaab militants destroy communications tower in Wajir County, Kenya; AMISOM forces kill two civilians in Lower Shabelle region

Yemen Security Brief

• Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed multiple attacks on al Houthi-Saleh forces in central Yemen on December 25-27. AQAP militants fired artillery at al Houthi-Saleh forces near Qifa village, Rada’a district, western al Bayda and detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) that killed an al Houthi-Saleh field commander in Rada’a on December 26. AQAP militants claimed to seize territory in Rada’a district and conduct multiple attacks on al Houthi-Saleh forces in western al Bayda on December 27. AQAP and the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) Wilayat al Bayda both claimed to destroy an al Houthi-Saleh truck on December 27 near Qifa village. ISIS Wilayat al Bayda claimed to launch mortars targeting al Houthi-Saleh forces near Qifa village on December 25.[1]

• AQAP conducted multiple attacks against Emirati-backed counterterrorism forces in southern Yemen on December 25-27. AQAP militants ambushed al Hizam security forces in Lawder district, northern Abyan on December 25. AQAP also claimed to kill two members of the Hadhrami Elite Forces in Douan, Hadramawt governorate during an ambush on December 27. Likely AQAP militants attempted to assassinate the Director of Shibam district, Hadramawt governorate on December 25. President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi visited al Mukalla, Hadramawt to praise the efforts of counterterrorism forces on December 25.[2]

• Forces loyal to President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government seized territory in Usaylan and Bayhan districts, northern Shabwah governorate on December 27. Al Houthi-Saleh forces seized these districts in April 2015. Hadi government forces are four kilometers away from seizing a strategic town along the border of Usaylan and Bayhan districts, according to a spokesman. Major roadways to neighboring Ma’rib and al Bayda governorates cross through Usaylan and Bayhan districts.[3]

• Hadi government and popular resistance forces continued an offensive against al Houthi-Saleh positions in Nihm district, roughly 100 kilometers northeast of Sana’a city, on December 24-27. Saudi-led coalition warplanes provided air support. Hadi government forces claimed to seize several new positions on December 24. Popular resistance forces claimed to destroy a Republican Guard camp in Arhab on December 27. The Republican Guard is loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

• Al Shabaab conducted two attacks targeting Somali security forces in southern Somalia on December 24 and 25. Militants ambushed a minibus near Baidoa, Bay region on December 24, killing three soldiers and wounding seven others. Al Shabaab also attacked a military outpost near Hudur town, Bakool region on December 25, killing three soldiers and wounding dozens more.[5]

• Al Shabaab gunmen killed a military prosecutor in Boosaso, Puntland region on December 25. Militants have assassinated three government officials in Boosaso in the past two weeks. Puntland security forces responded to the assassination by arresting dozens of suspected al Shabaab militants on December 26.[6]

• Election officials announced on December 26 that the Somali presidential election will be delayed for a fourth time amid allegations of fraud and voter intimidation. The election, most recently scheduled for December 28, will now take place on January 24. Somalia’s Parliament is responsible for electing the country’s president. Somalia’s new parliament is expected to be sworn in on December 28 in Mogadishu. Election delays and disputes have delayed the swearing-in, which was originally scheduled for December 15.[7]

• Jubbaland security forces backed by Kenyan forces attacked an al Shabaab base in Kismayo, Lower Juba region on December 27. The Jubbaland forces reportedly suffered heavy casualties.[8] 

• Al Shabaab militants destroyed a communications tower in Tarba village, Wajir county, Kenya on December 24. The militants also killed two soldiers and destroyed two vehicles. Al Shabaab is conducting a campaign to disrupt communications networks in eastern Kenya.[9]

• Somali media accused the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) of killing two civilians in KM 60 village, Lower Shabelle region on December 27. Troops fired on civilians after a remote-controlled IED exploded under an AMISOM convoy. AMISOM forces sparked popular backlash by erroneously targeting civilians in Lower Shabelle region on December 17 and 18 in Qoryooley and Marka town.[10]