Gulf of Aden Security Review – January 11, 2021

Yemen: Trump administration to designate al Houthis foreign terrorist organization; al Houthis attack anti–al Houthi forces in Ma’rib governorate

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab clashes with SNA and AMISOM forces in Hiraan region; suspected al Shabaab militants detonate IED targeting Kenyan forces along Kenyan-Somali border; al Shabaab ambushes SNA military base in Middle Shabelle region

Yemen Security Brief:

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on January 10 the outgoing Trump administration will designate the al Houthi movement a foreign terrorist organization on January 19. He said Trump’s administration also plans to designate three al Houthi leaders as specially designated global terrorists.[i]

Al Houthi militants attacked anti–al Houthi forces near Rahabah district in central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on January 9.[ii]

Horn of Africa Security Brief:

Al Shabaab militants clashed with Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia forces in Beledweyne town in southern Somalia’s Hiraan region.[iii]

Suspected al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting Kenyan troops near the Kenyan-Somali border on January 10. The attack killed at least four Kenyan soldiers and injured dozens of others.[iv]

Al Shabaab militants ambushed a SNA military base in central Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region on January 10. The attack killed three SNA soldiers.[v]