Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 20, 2017

Yemen: Al Houthi-Saleh forces claim to fire ballistic missile toward King Salman Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Saudi-led coalition interdicts al Houthi-Saleh vessels in Red Sea; Saudi-led coalition asks UN to assume jurisdiction over al Hudaydah port

Horn of Africa: Somali Federal Government blames Saudi-led coalition for deadly attack on refugee vessel in Red Sea; al Shabaab militants attack multiple SNA and AMISOM positions in southern Somalia; SNA soldiers protest unpaid salaries in Bulobarde town in Hiraan region

Yemen Security Brief

Al Houthi-Saleh forces claimed to fire a “Borkan-2” ballistic missile at King Salman Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 18. Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile over Asir region in southern Saudi Arabia on March 18, according to a local newspaper. Official Saudi sources have not confirmed the incident. Al Houthi-Saleh forces previously claimed an unconfirmed “Borkan-2” ballistic missile attack on a Saudi military base in al Muzahimiyah, roughly 35 miles west of Riyadh, on February 5.^[1] 

The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept three al Houthi-Saleh vessels off the northwestern coast of Midi district, Hajjah governorate, on March 17. Official Saudi sources claimed the ships intended to attack Saudi-led coalition ships patrolling in the area. The Saudi-led coalition claimed to sink one of the ships and capture a second while the third fled. Al Houthi-Saleh forces carried out an unmanned remote-controlled boat attack on a Saudi frigate off the coast of al Hudaydah governorate on January 30.^[2]

The Saudi-led coalition called on the UN to immediately assume jurisdiction over al Hudaydah port to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery on March 20. The Saudi-led coalition accused the al Houthi-Saleh faction of using al Hudaydah port as a hub for weapons smuggling. The Russian government criticized Saudi Arabia for blockading al Hudaydah port and exacerbating the region’s humanitarian crisis on March 13. Al Hudaydah port remains one of the only ports from which humanitarian aid can enter al Houthi-Saleh-controlled territory. Residents in al Hudaydah governorate face an ongoing cholera epidemic and impending famine.^[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

The Somali Federal Government (SFG) blamed the Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen for a helicopter attack on a refugee vessel that killed at least 42 Somalis on March 16. The attack occurred off the coast of al Hudaydah governorate, on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Omer blamed coalition forces during a radio broadcast on March 18. Both the coalition and al Houthi-Saleh forces denied responsibility for the attack. The SFG called on the coalition to investigate the incident. Regional competition for influence in Somalia has heightened tensions between the SFG and the UAE, a member of the coalition, in recent weeks.^[4]

Al Shabaab militants attacked multiple Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) bases in southern Somalia on March 18 and March 20. Al Shabaab militants attempted to raid a SNA base near Qoryoley town in Lower Shabelle region on March 18. AMISOM-backed SNA forces repelled the attack and killed at least three al Shabaab militants. Al Shabaab militants also attempted to raid SNA and AMISOM positions on the outskirts of Baidoa town in Bay region on March 20. SNA and AMISOM forces repelled the al Shabaab attack and killed at least seven militants.^[5] 

SNA soldiers blockaded major streets to protest unpaid salaries in Bulobarde town in Hiraan region, central Somalia, on March 18. The soldiers demanded salary payments from the Somali Federal Government (SFG) after the government failed to pay wages for several months. Hundreds of SNA soldiers also protested in response to unpaid wages in Mogadishu on March 12. New President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo promised to prioritize wage payments to soldiers and police during his campaign.^[6]