Gulf of Aden Security Review - July 28, 2017

Yemen: Al Houthi-Saleh forces fire ballistic missile toward Mecca region, western Saudi Arabia; Hadi government-aligned forces clash with al Houthi-Saleh fighters in southern Taiz city, western Yemen; Yemeni army deploys counterterrorism forces to Abyan governorate, southern Yemen; AQAP spokesman urges Palestinians to remain resilient; ISIS Wilayat al Bayda claims to break al Houthi-Saleh siege in northwestern al Bayda governorate

Horn of Africa: Leading Kenyan party denies accusation of planned election rigging; Kenya institutes checkpoints in Lamu County, eastern Kenya; al Shabaab reduces humanitarian aid access; roadside IED targets minister’s convoy in Gedo region, southwestern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

Al Houthi-Saleh media reported that several medium-range “Borkan-1” ballistic missiles targeted King Fahd air base in Ta’if region, western Saudi Arabia on July 27. Saudi air defense systems intercepted and destroyed one missile 69 kilometers south of Mecca. The coalition responded with multiple airstrikes on Sana’a city, including strikes on Khashem al Bakra camp and Daylami air base, northeastern Sana’a. Al Houthi-Saleh forces also claimed to launch a “Qahir-1" ballistic missile toward coalition forces in Mawza’ district, western Taiz governorate. Al Houthi-Saleh forces are intensifying their ballistic missile operations with likely Iranian assistance.^[1]  

Hadi government-aligned forces clashed with al Houthi-Saleh fighters for control of strategic sites in southern Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, on July 28. Forces aligned with the Hadi government and al Houthi-Saleh forces exchanged artillery fire at Salheen hill and Sabar al Mawadim area. Hadi government-aligned forces claimed to seize Salheen hill on July 19. Saudi-led coalition fighters also raided al Houthi-Saleh positions in al Shaqab district, southeastern Taiz city.^[2]

Hadi government military forces began preparations to deploy to Abyan governorate in southern Yemen for counterterrorism operations on July 27. The 103rd Infantry Brigade mobilized for its transfer from Aden city to Jahhayn town, southern Lawder district, northwestern Abyan governorate on July 26. The Yemeni army will deploy additional forces to eastern Lawder district. They will join counterterrorism operations led by Emirati-backed security forces in southern Yemen.^[3]

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) spokesman Khaled Batarfi called on the Muslim community (umma) to resist Israel in a video titled “For You, Oh Aqsa” on July 27. Batarfi urged Palestinians to remain resilient following Israel’s temporary prohibition of prayer at al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. AQAP seeks to provide guidance for the global Salafi-jihadi community.^[4] 

The Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) Wilayat al Bayda claimed to break an al Houthi-Saleh siege around al Zaharah area, northwestern al Bayda governorate on July 27. ISIS militants frequently cooperate on a tactical level with AQAP fighters against al Houthi-Saleh fighters in central Yemen.^[5]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

The Kenyan government denied claims by the country’s main opposition party that it intends to use military force to shape the outcome of general elections on August 8. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta seeks to retain the presidency amid a challenge by former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga.^[6]

Kenya’s interior ministry mandated police checks for all vehicles entering and exiting Lamu County in eastern Kenya. The measure is a response to a series of al Shabaab attacks in Lamu County, including the beheading of civilians and attacks on security forces.^[7]

Al Shabaab intensified a ban on humanitarian aid in its areas of control since June 2017, according to a report by the Guardian. The group had pursued a more moderate approach that allowed aid to reach affected communities in early 2017. Al Shabaab’s crackdown on aid organizations, reportedly due to an internal dispute, is causing malnutrition levels to spike in central and southern Somalia, especially among children.^[8] 

Likely al Shabaab militants planted a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) that struck the convoy of Jubbaland Security Minister Abdirashid Hassan Nur “Janan” in Dolow town, Gedo region, southwestern Somalia on July 27. Militants detonated the IED by remote control. No casualties were reported. Minister Nur traveled to Gedo region to oversee the execution of four al Shabaab militants on July 23.^[9]