Gulf of Aden Security Review – July 6, 2022

Yemen: UN introduces new roads proposal including only secondary roads; the Houthi roads delegation claims ROYG is not serious about negotiations; Houthi media and official entities condemn Israeli and Emirati activity near Socotra; Houthi media said a new USN task force aims to fulfill colonial and “zionist” ambitions

Somalia: Al Shabaab IED targets Danab forces in south-central Somalia; al Shabaab IED targets Ugandan ATMIS convoy in southern Somalia; Danab clears a village in south-central Somalia; al Shabaab IED targets Hiran regional governor’s convoy in central Somalia; al Shabaab IED targets the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mogadishu

Yemen Security Brief:

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg introduced a new proposal on the reopening of roads near Taiz city to the Houthis and the Yemeni government on July 6.^[i] The proposal reportedly does not call for the reopening of any major roads, and focuses on secondary roads. An anonymous Yemeni government official claimed that Grundberg’s proposal “surprised” the government, and that Grundberg did not consult the government before he revealed the proposal.

The Houthi roads delegation head said the Houthis “no longer find any explanation for stalled negotiations” other than a “lack of seriousness” from the Yemeni government on July 1.^[ii] The delegation head said the Houthis will reopen secondary roads as soon as his delegation returns to Sana’a.

The Houthi Red Sea Fisheries Association condemned “population displacement” on Abdul Kuri Island, Socotra governorate on July 2.^[iii] The association claimed the establishment of a new “Emirati-Israeli military base” caused the displacement. Iranian and Houthi media also claimed the UAE and Israel are working to establish a military base on Socotra or in Socotra governorate between July 3 and 5.^[iv]

Houthi outlet Ansarollah claimed the new USN counter-smuggling combined task force in the Red Sea is a “pretext for more dangerous colonial and Zionist ambitions.”^[v]

Somalia Security Brief:

Al Shabaab militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting a US-trained Danab Special Forces convoy near Mahaday, Jowhar district, Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia, on July 1.[vi] Al Shabaab claimed to kill three soldiers and wound five others. The convoy was traveling from El-Baraf to Mahaday.

Al Shabaab militants detonated an IED targeting a Ugandan African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) convoy in KM-60, Marka district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on July 2.[vii] Al Shabaab claimed to kill five soldiers. The convoy traveled from Mogadishu to Marka.

US-trained Danab Special Forces cleared Ali Foldhere village from al Shabaab militants in Jowhar district, Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia, on July 2.[viii] Somali National Army (SNA) officials claimed to kill 40 militants.

Al Shabaab detonated an IED targeting the Hiraan regional governor’s convoy in Mataban, Beledweyne district, Hiraan region, central Somalia, on July 3.[ix] Al Shabaab claimed to kill three soldiers. The convoy was traveling from Mataban to Qabdho. This is the second attempt to assassinate Osman since June 27.[x]

Al Shabaab militants detonated two IEDs targeting the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Wadajir district, Mogadishu, on July 6.[xi] Al Shabaab claimed to wound three guards.