Gulf of Aden Security Review – May 23, 2022

Yemen: Houthi delegation travels to Amman for talks on reopening Taiz roads; Saudi deputy defense minister meets with key US officials in Washington, D.C.

Somalia: Al Shabaab raids an SNA checkpoint in southern Somalia; SNA captures an al Shabaab officer in southern Somalia; al Shabaab IED kills SNA soldiers in southern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief:

A Houthi delegation led by Yahya Abdullah al Razami arrived in Amman, Jordan for discussions with a Yemeni government delegation led by Islah member Abdul Karim Sharaf Shaiban on reopening roads around Taiz city, southwestern Yemen.[i] Razami is reportedly close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).[ii]

Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman continued meetings with key US officials in Washington, D.C. on May 20-21. Bin Salman met US Special Envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking and discussed the importance of securing port revenues in Hudaydah, reopening roads in Taiz, and “engaging” with peace proposals on May 20.[iii] Bin Salman also discussed US-Saudi relations with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on May 20.[iv] Bin Salman, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman discussed Yemen, Ukraine, and US-Saudi relations on May 21.[v] Bin Salman and his delegation also met with the US national security advisor on May 18.[vi]

Somalia Security Brief:

Al Shabaab raided a Somali National Army (SNA) checkpoint in Bal’ad, Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia, on May 21.[vii] Al Shabaab killed at least seven soldiers. Al Shabaab militants disguised themselves as civilians and arrived at the checkpoint in a civilian vehicle.

The SNA claimed to capture the head of al Shabaab in Marka in Marka town, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on May 22.[viii]

Al Shabaab detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting SNA soldiers in Afgoi district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on May 21.[ix] The IED killed two soldiers.