Gulf of Aden Security Review – January 31, 2022

Yemen: Houthis will continue targeting the UAE; Houthis fire at least one ballistic missile targeting UAE

Somalia: Al Shabaab retaliates against a village in southern Somalia; likely al Shabaab IED kills 10 civilians in northeastern Kenya; Somali police set up new police stations to counter reported IS-S extortion efforts

Yemen Security Brief

The Houthi ambassador to Iran called the withdrawal of UAE-backed forces in southern Ma’rib governorate, northern Yemen a “deception” on January 30.[i] The ambassador added the Houthi movement would continue targeting the UAE and other countries of “aggression.”

The Houthi movement fired at least one ballistic missile targeting Abu Dhabi, UAE, on January 30.[ii] Emirati air defenses intercepted the missile. The Houthi military spokesperson claimed the Houthis targeted Abu Dhabi with Zulfiqar ballistic missiles and targeted Dubai with Sammad-3 drones.[iii] The spokesperson added the UAE would be “unsafe” while the UAE continues to use “Israeli tools” to attack Yemen.[iv] The Emirati Air Force conducted a retaliatory strike on a Houthi missile site in al Jawf governorate, northern Yemen.[v] The attack occurred during the visit of the Israeli president to Abu Dhabi.[vi]

Somalia Security Brief

Al Shabaab militants raided Marere village, near Bal’ad town in the Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia on January 29.[vii] The attackers burned several houses. Many villagers fled to Bal’ad town. Al Shabaab raided another nearby village, Muku Dheere, on January 28 in retaliation for villagers cooperating with counterterrorism forces.[viii] 

Likely al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device targeting a civilian bus near Mandera town, Mandera county, northeastern Kenya, on January 31.[ix] The explosion killed at least ten people. Kenyan police say the attackers fled towards the Kenyan-Somali border.

Somali Police set up two new police stations in Bakara Market, Hawl Wadag district, Mogadishu on January 30.[x] Shopkeepers closed their Bakara Market storefronts on January 26 in response to reports Islamic State–Somalia were extorting and bombing shopkeepers in the area.[xi]