Gulf of Aden Security Review – February 28, 2022

Yemen: Houthi drone targets Saudi Arabia; French navy interdicts ship trafficking heroin in the Gulf of Oman; Houthis shoot down tactical drone; Yemeni Army destroys Houthi WBIEDs in Red Sea

Somalia:  Al Shabaab attacks SNA base in southern Somalia; KDF ambushes al Shabaab militants in northeastern Kenya; Al Shabaab attacks Jubbaland security forces in southern Somalia

 

Yemen Security Brief

The Houthis launched an explosives-laden drone targeting a village in Jizan province, southwestern Saudi Arabia, on February 26.[i] The Saudi-led coalition intercepted the drone. The coalition said that the Houthis launched the drone from Sana’a International Airport.

A French navy vessel interdicted a fishing vessel transporting roughly 271 kilograms of heroin in the Gulf of Oman on February 26.[ii] The French navy interdicted the vessel on a known Houthi smuggling route.

The Houthis shot down a tactical drone on February 28. Houthi movement spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the Houthis shot down a ScanEagle surveillance drone operated by the Saudi army over Haradh district, Hajjah governorate, northern Yemen.[iii]

The Houthis launched two water-borne improvised explosive devices (WBIEDs) in the Red Sea off the northwestern coast of Yemen on February 26.[iv] The Yemeni Army destroyed the WBIEDs.

Somalia Security Brief

Al Shabaab militants attacked a Turkish-trained Somali National Army (SNA) Gorgor Special Forces base in Barire, Afgooi district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia.[v] The Gorgor forces repelled the attack and reportedly killed 29 al Shabaab militants.

Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) ambushed al Shabaab militants in Sarira, Garissa County, northeastern Kenya, on February 27.[vi] The KDF claimed they killed four al Shabaab militants.

Al Shabaab raided a Jubbaland forces military base near the Dariq Bridge, Kismayo, Lower Juba region, southwestern Somalia on February 28.[vii] The raid killed one soldier.