Yemen: Al Houthis release video allegedly of captured AQAP base in al Jawf governorate; UAE-backed STC forces claim capturing al Houthi-controlled sites in Ibb governorate; al Houthis claim causing Saudi-backed Hadi government force casualties in al Bayda governorate
Horn of Africa: Islamist militants execute civilians in northern Mozambique; al Shabaab assassinates Mogadishu police officer
Yemen Security Brief:
Al Houthi militants released a video allegedly showing a captured base that belonged to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Khasaf region in al Jawf governorate in northern Yemen. The video showed underground housing, a prison, weapons, and other materials belonging to AQAP at the base. Al Houthi militants did not report any clashes with AQAP in al Jawf governorate related to this claim.[1]
United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) forces claimed capturing al Houthi-controlled areas in southern Yemen on April 20. An STC official stated that STC forces captured sites near Hejar in Ibb governorate in southern Yemen and the main road connecting Ibb governorate to Dhaleh, Lahij, and Aden governorates. STC forces claimed destroying four al Houthi military vehicles and seizing military equipment. Al Houthi militants clashed with Saudi-led coalition forces in Dhaleh governorate on the same day.[2]
Al Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea released a statement on April 21 claiming al Houthi militants caused Saudi-backed Hadi government force casualties during clashes in Silo district in al Bayda governorate on the same day. Saudi-backed Hadi government forces claimed seizing al Houthi-held territory in al Bayda governorate in early April, after reportedly launching airstrikes targeting al Houthi militants.[3]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
A Mozambican police spokesman stated on April 21 that “bandits” killed 52 Mozambican villagers near Muidumbe in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on April 7, for refusing to join the group. The Islamist militants killed 14 villagers, according to contradicting local sources. The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province claimed on April 20 shooting down a Mozambican government-aligned mercenary helicopter near Muidumbe on April 8.[4]
Al Shabaab claimed assassinating a police officer in Karan district of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on April 22. Al Shabaab claimed three assassinations targeting Somali soldiers and an intelligence official in Mogadishu between April 12 and April 15.[5]
[1] “Houthis capture al Qaeda base in northern yemen,” Long War Journal, April 21, 2020, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/04/houthis-capture-al-qaeda-base-in-northern-yemen.php.
[2] Ali Mahmood, “Yemen's southern joint forces drive houthis from strategic sites,” The National, April 22, 2020, https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/yemen-s-southern-joint-forces-drive-houthis-from-strategic-sites-1.1009392; and Samuel Bloebaum and Pamela Makadsi, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 21, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 21, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-21-2020.
[3] “Saudi-backed forces suffer major losses after another failed offensive in central Yemen,” Al Masdar News, April 21, 2020, https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/saudi-backed-forces-suffer-major-losses-after-another-failed-offensive-in-central-yemen/; and Samuel Bloebaum and Pamela Makadsi, “Gulf of Aden Security Review - April 8, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, April 8, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-april-8-2020.
[4] Nqobile Dludla, “Islamist insurgents kill 52 villagers in Mozambique, police say,” Reuters, April 21, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mozambique-insurgency/islamist-insurgents-kill-52-villagers-in-mozambique-police-say-idUSKCN2233AV; “Mozambique villagers 'massacred' by Islamists,” BBC, April 22, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52381507; and Samuel Bloebaum and Pamela Makadsi, “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.
[5] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Police officer shot dead in Karan district,” Somalimemo, April 22, 2020, https://somalimemo.net/articles/12815/Sarkaal-Boolis-oo-lagu-dilay-degmada-Kaaraan; 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.