Yemen: AQAP claims two attacks on al Houthis in al Bayda governorate; Saudi-led coalition claims to intercept al Houthi explosive-laden drone targeting Saudi Arabia; al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clash in Ma’rib governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab launches mortar targeting Mogadishu airport; al Shabaab executes alleged spies in Middle Jubba region
Yemen Security Brief:
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a statement claiming an improvised explosive device attack on an al Houthi truck in central Yemen’s al Bayda governorate on March 6. AQAP also claimed an ambush on an al Houthi motorcycle in al Bayda governorate on February 18, killing one al Houthi militant.[i]
The Saudi-led coalition claimed to intercept an al Houthi explosive-laden drone targeting Khamis Mushait city in southern Saudi Arabia on March 9. The Saudi-led coalition last claimed to intercept an al Houthi explosive-laden drone targeting Khamis Mushait city on March 6.[ii]
Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces clashed along the Sirwah and al Masjah fronts of central Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on March 10. Al Houthi and anti–al Houthi forces previously clashed along the Sirwah and al Masjah fronts on March 6. [iii]
Horn of Africa Security Brief:
Al Shabaab launched mortar toward Aden Adde International Airport in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on March 9. Somali state representatives began arriving at the airport the same day for electoral talks with the Somali Federal Government (SFG). Al Shabaab launched mortar targeting a SFG delegation attending electoral talks in central Somalia’s Galmudug State in early February.[iv]
Al Shabaab executed five alleged spies in Buale town in southern Somalia’s Middle Jubba region on March 8. Al Shabaab previously executed men accused of reporting militant locations to the US Central Intelligence Agency in Middle Jubba’s Jilib district on March 1.[v]
[i] “AQAP Claims Targeting Houthi Truck, Motorcycle in 2 Attacks in Bayda,” SITE Intelligence Group, March 8, 2021, available by subscription at www.siteintelgroup.com.
[ii] “Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi drone: State media,” Emirates News Agency, March 9, 2021, http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302916534; and Amelia Frederking and Lauren Detter, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 8, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 8, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-8-2021.
[iii] “Battles of Marib… Dozens dead, and Hadi calls for updating military plans,” Al Jazeera, March 10, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.net/news/politics/2021/3/10/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%ae%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1-%d8%a8%d8%b4%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a8%d8%b5%d9%81%d9%88%d9%81-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%88%d8%ab%d9%8a%d9%8a%d9%86-%d9%81%d9%8a; and Amelia Frederking and Lauren Detter, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 8, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 8, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-8-2021.
[iv] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Al Shabaab claims responsibility for Halane Camp bombing,” Somalimemo, March 9, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14373/Al-Shabaab-oo-sheegtay-Masuuliyadda-duqeyn-loo-geystay-Xerada-Xalane; “Madobe meets UN envoy ahead of poll talks,” Goobjoog, March 10, 2021, http://goobjoog.com/english/madobe-meets-un-envoy-ahead-of-poll-talks/; “Somalia:3 al-Shabaab militants killed after mortar attack,” Mustaqbal Radio, February 2, 2021, https://www.mustaqbalradio.net/somalia-3-al-shabaab-militants-killed-after-mortar-attack/; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 3, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, February 3, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-february-3-2021.
[v] Liibaan Jeexoow, “Men accused of spying for international intelligence killed in Buale,” Somalimemo, March 8, 2021, https://somalimemo.info/articles/14368/Rag-lagu-eedeeyay-in-ay-ubasaasayeen-sirdoonno-caalami-ah-oo-Buaale-lagu-dilay-Warbixin; and Lauren Detter and Amelia Frederking, “Gulf of Aden Security Review – March 3, 2021,” Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, March 3, 2021, https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/gulf-of-aden-security-review/gulf-of-aden-security-review-march-3-2021.