Yemen: Al Houthi militants claim clearing AQAP militants from territory in al Bayda governorate; President Hadi travels to US for medical treatment; STC-aligned forces exchange artillery with Hadi government–aligned forces in Abyan governorate; Saudi-led coalition forces launch multiple airstrikes on al Houthi sites in several governorates; Hadi government forces clash with al Houthis in al Bayda governorate
Horn of Africa: Islamic State-aligned militants seize port city in northern Mozambique; SNA forces claim killing al Shabaab official in southern Somalia; Tanzanian army announces security patrols on southern border with Mozambique
Yemen Security Brief:
The al Houthi movement claimed clearing al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants from territory in Qayfa district in central Yemen's al Bayda governorate on August 10. AQAP claimed attacking al Houthi militants in al Bayda governorate on August 7.[1]
The president of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, reportedly traveled from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to the United States for medical treatment on August 12. He reportedly plans to return to Riyadh next week. President Hadi has visited the US for medical purposes in the past with his most recent trip having been in June 2019.[2]
Hadi government–aligned forces exchanged artillery with forces aligned with the Transitional Political Council of the South (STC) in Zinjibar district in southern Yemen’s Abyan governorate on August 11. Hadi government–aligned forces previously clashed with STC-aligned forces in Abyan governorate on August 10.[3]
The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes targeting al Houthi positions in Sa’ada governorate on August 12 and in al Jawf, al Bayda, and Ma’rib governorates on August 11. The Saudi-led coalition previously launched airstrikes on al Houthi positions in these governorates between late July and early August.[4]
Hadi government forces clashed with al Houthi militants in Qaniya front in al Bayda governorate on August 10. Hadi government forces previously clashed with al Houthi militants in al Bayda governorate on August 9.[5]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Islamic State-aligned militants captured Mocimboa da Praia city in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on August 11. Mozambican security forces and allied South African mercenaries fought the advancing militants for a week before withdrawing from the city after running out of ammunition. The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province released photos on August 11 displaying weapons and Mozambican soldiers killed during raids targeting two Mozambican military posts near Mocimboa da Praia on August 6.[6]
Somalia’s Chief of Military Staff announced on August 10 that Somali National Army (SNA) forces killed an al Shabaab regional commander in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. The SNA official said that the regional commander orchestrated attacks targeting security forces and governmental officials in the region. He said that the militant also oversaw al Shabaab’s tax collection in Lower Shabelle region. Unidentified militants killed a Somali district commissioner in Wanlaweyn town in Lower Shabelle region in early August.[7]
Tanzanian military officials announced operations intended to boost security in southern Tanzania’s Mbinga district on August 11. The patrols are in reaction to the presence of Islamic State-aligned militants in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, south of Tanzania’s border.[8]
[1] “Al-Qaeda Loses Strategic Sites to Yemeni Army, Popular Committees, in Al-Baidha,” Al Masirah, August 11, 2020, http://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=14366&cat_id=1; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 7, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 7, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-07-2020.
[2] “Yemen president Hadi to head to U.S. for medical treatment, sources say,” Reuters, August 12, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-president/yemen-president-hadi-to-head-to-u-s-for-medical-treatment-sources-say-idUSKCN2572HS?il=0.
[3] “The intensification of confrontations between the National Army and the STC militia in Abyan…the latest developments, Mareb Press, August 11, 2020, https://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=166177; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 10, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 10, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-10-2020.
[4] “Coalition fighters bomb Houthi groups in Saada,” 7adramout, August 12, 2020, https://www.7adramout.net/almashhadalaraby/7463238/%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B5%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9.html; “Coalition fighters double the militia losses in the Saba region after carrying out 18 raids on the Houthis,” Al Mashhad al Yemeni, August 12, 2020, https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/175181; Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 7, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 7, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-07-2020; Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 10, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 10, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-10-2020; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 27, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, July 27, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-july-27-2020.
[5] “The Houthi militia suffers 30 deaths in Al-Bayda battles, and the National Army announces new victories,” Mareb Press, August 11, 2020, https://marebpress.net/news_details.php?lang=arabic&sid=166179; and Matthew Eady and Samuel Bloebaum, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 10, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 10, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-10-2020.
[6] Adre Baptista, “Insurgents capture port of Mocímboa da Praia and Islamic State releases images,” Voice of America Portuguese, August 12, 2020, https://www.voaportugues.com/a/insurgentes-capturam-porto-de-moc%C3%ADmboa-da-praia-e-estado-isl%C3%A2mico-divulga-imagens/5540447.html; “ISCAP Documents Result of Clashes in Mocimboa da Praia, Shows Corpses and War Spoils,” SITE Intelligence Group, August 11, 2020, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com; and Samuel Bloebaum and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 07, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 7, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-07-2020.
[7] “Somali troops kill senior Al-Shabaab commander in operation,” Garowe, August 10, 2020, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/somali-troops-kill-senior-al-shabaab-commander-in-operation; and Samuel Bloebaum and Matthew Eady, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 3, 2020,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, August 3, 2020, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-august-07-2020.
[8] “TPDF to launch a manhunt along the border with Mozambique,” The Citizen, August 11, 2020, https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/TPDF-to-launch-a-manhunt-along-the-border-with-Mozambique/1840340-5607474-6wv92oz/index.html.