Yemen: Al Houthis release former Hadi government culture minister in Sana’a; al Houthis shell residential areas in al Hudaydah governorate; al Houthis claim causing Saudi-led coalition force casualties in Dhaleh governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab detonates IEDs targeting Ethiopian military convoy in south-central Somalia; al Shabaab militants prematurely detonate IED killing and injuring militants in Mogadishu; al Shabaab detonates IEDs targeting SNA soldiers in southern Somalia
Yemen Security Brief:
Al Houthi militants released a former culture minister aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi on April 20, a day after the al Houthi militants detained him in the Yemeni capital Sana’a. Al Houthi militants detained Khalid al Ruweishan, seizing his personal documents, after he reportedly criticized the al Houthi movement’s failure to address recent flooding in Sana’a.[1]
Al Houthi militants shelled residential areas in al Durayhimi district in al Hudaydah governorate in western Yemen on April 22, according to local media sources. Al Houthi militants claimed shooting down a Saudi-led coalition reconnaissance plane with a surface-to-air missile in al Durayhimi district on April 20.[2]
Al Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea released a statement on April 20 claiming al Houthi militants caused over 52 Saudi-led coalition force casualties during clashes with Saudi-led coalition forces in Dhaleh governorate in southern Yemen. Al Houthi militants shelled civilians in al Hashah district in al Dhaleh governorate in late March.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab detonated a series of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting an Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) convoy near Awdiinle in south-central Somalia’s Bay region on April 20, according to pro-al Shabaab media. Al Shabaab claimed killing two ENDF soldiers. The ENDF’s Eastern Air Force division reportedly conducted multiple airstrikes targeting al Shabaab militants near Kortole and Hirkut in southwestern Somalia’s Gedo region on April 12.[4]
Al Shabaab militants prematurely detonated an IED in Huriwa district in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on April 20. The blast killed one militant and injured two more. Al Shabaab has claimed three IED attacks in Mogadishu between April 10 and 15.[5]
Al Shabaab militants detonated IEDs targeting SNA soldiers in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on April 20 and 21, respectively. The first blast killed one SNA soldier and one civilian in Awdheegle. Al Shabaab, however, claimed killing two SNA soldiers and injuring 12 more. The second blast killed six SNA soldiers and injured three more near Muri. Al Shabaab claimed killing seven Somali special forces soldiers. An unclaimed landmine explosion killed four civilians and injured two more near Awdheegle on April 9.[6]
[1] “Houthis release ex-yemen minister day after abduction,” Asharq Al Awsar, April 20, 2020, https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2243666/houthis-release-ex-yemen-minister-day-after-abduction; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 20, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 20, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-20-2020.
[2] “Al houthi militia targets the residential villages in al-duraimi directorate,” Al Amalika, April 21, 2020, https://alamalika.net/site/2020/04/21/%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%b4%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%88%d8%ab%d9%8a-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%af%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%b1%d9%89-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%83%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%81-4/; and Pamela Makadsi and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 20, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 20, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-20-2020.
[3] “Over 52 Saudi mercenaries killed, injured during encountering a creep in Yemen,” Abna 24, April 21, 2020, https://en.abna24.com/news//over-52-of-saudi-mercenaries-killed-injured-during-encountering-creep-in-yemen_1028280.html; and Jessica Kocan and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - March 30, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 30, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-30-2020.
[4] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Ethiopian Military Transports Burned in Bay Region,” Somalimemo, April 20, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/12807/Faah-Faahin-Gaadiid-Xamuul-ah-oo-ciidamada-Itoobiya-looga-gubay-gobolka-Baay; 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.
[5] Harun Maruf, Twitter, April 20, 2020, https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1252332758346747904; and “Shabaab Accuses U.S. of Killing Civilians in 2 Drone Strikes, Claims 6 Casualties Among Kenyan Soldiers in Wajir County,” SITE Intelligence Group, April 16, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[6] “Six Somali soldiers killed in Al-Shabaab attack in Lower Shabelle,” Somali Affairs, April 21, 2020, https://www.somaliaffairs.com/news/six-somali-soldiers-killed-in-al-shabaab-attack-in-lower-shabelle/; Arag Fikradaha, “Two Dead in Awdheegle Bombings,” Voice of America Somali, April 20, 2020, https://www.voasomali.com/a/5379667.html; and Liibaan Jeexoow, “Heavy Fighting between Government Troops and al Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region,” Somalimemo, April 20, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/12810/Weeraro-Askar-badan-lagu-dilay-oo-ka-dhacay-deegaanno-katirsan-Sh-Hoose; 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.