Yemen: Hadi government forces accuse al Houthis of launching attacks in Ma’rib governorate; Saudi media circulates video of alleged al Houthis claiming they’ll kill anyone with coronavirus; al Houthis accuse Saudi-led coalition forces of launching attacks on several northern governorates
Horn of Africa: ISCA militants force Christian villagers to flee town in northern Mozambique; Mozambican National Police Commander dismisses ISCA as insurgency in northern Mozambique
Yemen Security Brief:
Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi accused al Houthi militants on April 14 of carrying out several attacks since the Saudi-led coalition announced a two-week unilateral cease-fire that began on April 9. Hadi government forces accused al Houthi militants of attacking civilians and residential neighborhoods in Ma’rib city in Ma’rib governorate in northern Yemen. Saudi-led coalition forces claimed intercepting an al Houthi missile fired toward Ma’rib governorate on April 12.[1]
A Saudi media outlet circulated a video on April 15 allegedly of al Houthi militants stating that they would shoot and kill anyone diagnosed with coronavirus to prevent the spread of the virus in Yemen. The alleged al Houthi militants in the video stated that bullets are the only solution to prevent the virus’s spread. Yemen reported its first coronavirus case on April 10.[2]
Al Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea accused Saudi-led coalition forces of conducting air strikes on several northern Yemeni governorates, including Ma’rib, al Jawf, and Sa’ada on April 14. Sarea accused Saudi-led coalition forces of launching multiple airstrikes in several Yemeni governorates on April 13.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCA) militants claimed on April 9 storming Bilibza village in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on April 7. The Islamic State’s al Naba media outlet reported that the militants forced Christian villagers to flee Bilibza, accusing them of spying for the Mozambican government. ISCA militants redistributed the Christians’ food to remaining Muslim villagers. ISCA militants claimed attacking a Mozambican army post near Muidumbe in Cabo Delgado province on April 6.[4]
Mozambique’s National Police Commander claimed on April 14 that ISCA militants in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province are a criminal organization, not an insurgency. He claimed that the majority of the militants are Tanzanians who tricked Mozambican youth into joining the organization. ISCA militants declared on March 25 their intention to establish a caliphate in Cabo Delgado province.[5]
[1] “Houthis carried out 242 attacks on our sites since start of ceasefire,” Middle East Monitor, April 15, 2020, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200415-yemen-army-houthis-carried-out-242-attacks-on-our-sites-since-start-of-ceasefire/; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-13-2020.
[2] “Houthis say that they will shoot and kill people with COVID-19 coronavirus,” Al Arabiya, April 15, 2020, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/04/15/Watch-Houthis-say-they-would-shoot-and-kill-people-with-COVID-19-coronavirus.html.
[3] “Saudi Warplanes Continue Bombing Yemen,” Tasnim News Agency, April 15, 2020, https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/04/15/2244056/saudi-warplanes-continue-bombing-yemen; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 13, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 13, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-13-2020.
[4] “IS Reveals Attack on Christian Town in Mozambique, Claims Army is Utilizing Christian Tribesmen as Spies,” SITE Intelligence Group, April 15, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 9, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 9, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-9-2020.
[5] “Mozambique police dismiss jihadist threat in north after attacks,” AFP, April 14, 2020, https://news.yahoo.com/mozambique-police-dismiss-jihadist-threat-north-attacks-192852883.html; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 14, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 14, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-14-2020.