Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 16, 2023

Yemen: AQAP conducts two drone attacks targeting Shabwani Defense Force posts in southern Yemen; AQAP claims IED attack targeting STC-backed forces in southern Yemen; US special envoy to Yemen meets with Yemeni leaders

Somalia: US AFRICOM commander meets with political and military leaders in two-day tour of Somalia; SNA ambushes al Shabaab vehicle in north-central Somalia; al Shabaab executes five suspected spies in southern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed a June 12 drone attack targeting a Shabwani Defense Forces 1st Brigade post in al Musayniah, Shabwah governorate, southern Yemen, on June 14.[i] AQAP published photos of the drone dropping and detonating explosives on the post. AQAP targeted the same post in a direct-fire attack on June 10 and another drone attack on May 16.[ii]

AQAP conducted a drone attack targeting the Shabwani Defense Forces in al Musayniah, Shabwah governorate, southern Yemen, on June 14.[iii] AQAP claimed the attack wounded four soldiers and published two photos showing the drone dropping and detonating explosives. The attack targeted a different post in al Musayniah than AQAP’s June 12 drone attack.

AQAP claimed to detonate an improvised explosive device targeting a water tanker from Southern Transitional Council–backed forces in Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, on June 14.[iv] AQAP published two before-and-after pictures showing the damaged vehicle.

US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking met separately with Yemeni president Rashad al Alimi and Presidential Leadership Council member Maj. Gen. Sultan al Arada on June 14.[v] Lenderking discussed ongoing truce negotiations and wider humanitarian and peace initiatives in both meetings, including efforts to re-open Hudaydah port and the Sana’a airport.

Somalia Security Brief

US Africa Commander Gen. Michael Langley traveled to Somalia to meet with military and political leaders from June 13–14.[vi] Gen. Langley met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the Somali defense minister, the Somali National Army (SNA) head, and an African Union delegation in separate meetings in Mogadishu to discuss counterterrorism efforts on June 13.[vii] Gen. Langley then traveled to Kismayo, Lower Jubba region, on June 14, where he met with the Jubbaland State president, US-trained Danab force officers, and US troops embedded with the Danab forces.[viii]

An SNA patrol ambushed an al Shabaab vehicle near Gal’ad, El Dheere district, Galgudud region, north-central Somalia, on June 15.[ix] The attack killed three militants.

Al Shabaab executed five people accused of spying in Qunyo Barrow, Jamame district, Middle Jubba region, southern Somalia, on June 15.[x]