Gulf of Aden Security Review - June 1, 2020

Yemen: Saudis claim intercepting al Houthi drone over southwestern Saudi city; Hadi government forces claim repelling al Houthi attack in Sana’a governorate; unclaimed explosion occurs at Hadi military camp in Ma’rib governorate; al Houthi and Hadi government forces accuse each other of shelling residential neighborhoods with artillery in al Hudaydah governorate

Horn of Africa: Landmine blast kills civilians near Mogadishu; Mozambican president claims killing militant leaders in northern Mozambique

Yemen Security Brief:

A Saudi-led coalition spokesman claimed that Saudi forces shot down two al Houthi drones launched toward Khamis Mushait city in southwestern Saudi Arabia on June 1. The al Houthi movement has not yet confirmed this attack. A Saudi-led coalition spokesman claimed on May 28 that Saudi forces shot down an al Houthi drone over Najran city in southwestern Saudi Arabia.[1]

Forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi claimed repelling an al Houthi attack in Sana’a governorate’s Nihm district in northern Yemen on May 31. Saudi-backed Hadi government forces claimed killing at least 30 al Houthi militants and destroying several al Houthi vehicles. Hadi government forces claimed advancing in Nihm district in late May.[2]

An explosion occurred at Hadi government military camp Sahn al Jin in Ma’rib governorate in northern Yemen on May 31. Locals claimed that the explosion was a likely result of an al Houthi ballistic missile attack. Al Houthi militants reportedly launched a ballistic missile on Sahn al Jin camp on May 27. The al Houthi movement also launched a missile targeting Ma’rib city on June 1, according to local residents. [3]

Al Houthi militants shelled residential neighborhoods with artillery in Hays city and al Tahita and al Durayhimi districts in al Hudaydah governorate in southwestern Yemen on May 31, according to anti-al Houthi sources. Al Houthi militants accused Saudi-led coalition forces of targeting al Zuhur neighborhood in al Hudaydah city with artillery, killing four civilians and injuring 18 others on May 31.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Somali government officials accused al Shabaab of planting a landmine that destroyed a bus carrying Somali civilians near Afgoi in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on May 31. The blast killed 10 civilians and wounded 13 more. Al Shabaab has not claimed responsibility for the attack. An unclaimed landmine killed four civilians near Baidoa in south-central Somalia’s Bay region on May 24.[5]

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi announced on May 30 that Mozambican security forces may have killed the leaders of an Islamist militant group near Macomia town in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. Mozambican security forces, supported by South African military contractors, have continued fighting Islamic State-aligned militants in Macomia since the militants attacked the town on May 28.[6]