Gulf of Aden Security Review – August 17, 2020

Yemen: AQAP militants kill dentist suspected of spying in al Bayda governorate; Saudi-led coalition claims intercepting al Houthi missiles launched toward Saudi Arabia; al Houthis reportedly kill Hadi government military leader in al Jawf governorate; al Houthis claim taking territory from Hadi government forces in Ma’rib governorate

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab militants attack hotel in Somali capital; Somali special forces and AMISOM take over al Shabaab-controlled town in southern Somalia; al Shabaab militants attack SNA base and Somali government officials in southwestern Somalia; Mozambican security forces surround Islamist-controlled city in northern Mozambique

 Yemen Security Brief:

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants executed a dentist in Sawma’ah district in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate on August 15. AQAP militants executed the dentist over allegations of spying for the US government. AQAP is reportedly planning to carry out more executions in the coming days. The al Houthi movement claimed clearing AQAP militants from territory in al Bayda governorate on August 10.[1]

A spokesman for the Saud-led coalition announced that Saudi Arabia intercepted al Houthi ballistic missiles targeting civilian centers in southern Saudi Arabia on August 16. The Saudi-led coalition previously announced intercepting al Houthi explosive unmanned aerial vehicles in Yemen on August 15.[2]

Al Houthi militants reportedly killed a military general aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government of Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and several other soldiers during clashes in northern Yemen’s al Jawf governorate on August 16. Saudi-led coalition airstrikes reportedly killed several al Houthi militants in al Jawf governorate that same day. The Saudi-led coalition previously launched airstrikes on al Houthi positions in al Jawf governorate on August 11.[3]

An al Houthi official claimed al Houthi militants took control of Hadi government–controlled territory in Madghal district in northern Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on August 16. Hadi government forces reportedly clashed with al Houthi militants in multiple Ma’rib governorate districts on August 14.[4]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Al Shabaab militants attacked the Elite Hotel in Abdul Aziz district of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on August 16. The militants detonated a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) outside the hotel before four gunmen stormed the property. Al Shabaab claimed targeting Somali government officials staying at the hotel. The attack killed at least 11 civilians and injured 30 more. Somali security forces killed all four militants. Al Shabaab attacked the SYL hotel in Mogadishu in December 2019.[5]

Somali special forces supported by African Union Mission to Somalia troops drove al Shabaab from Kuntuwaaray town in southern Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region on August 15. Somali government officials said the town served as a military base, taxation center, and training center for al Shabaab. Somali security forces reportedly rescued 33 children during the raid. Al Shabaab began withdrawing from the town on August 14, according to local residents. SNA forces killed an al Shabaab regional commander in Lower Shabelle region on August 10.[6]

Al Shabaab militants attacked a Somali National Army (SNA) base near Burdhubo town in southwestern Somalia’s Gedo region on August 15. SNA forces killed four militants, according to a SNA spokesman. Al Shabaab militants also detonated an IED targeting Somalia’s education minister near Beled Hawo in Gedo region on August 16. The attack injured the minister and two members of his delegation. Al Shabaab claimed attempting to assassinate a former Somali deputy mayor in Gedo region’s Dolow district in early August.[7]

Mozambican security forces surrounded the Islamist militant–controlled city of Mocimboa da Praia in northern Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province on August 16. Islamic State–aligned militants seized the city after Mozambican troops withdrew from it on August 12.[8]