Gulf of Aden Security Review – June 27, 2023

Yemen: AQAP captures STC-backed position in Abyan; Yemeni president visits Hadramawt and says Hadramawt will manage its own finances, security, and administration; AQAP fighters target Shabwani Defense Forces with drone in Shabwah

Somalia: Somali security forces arrest two IS–Somalia foreign fighters in northern Somalia; ATMIS hands over two more bases to the SNA; al Shabaab detonates several IEDs targeting civilians in southern Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said it captured a Southern Transitional Council (STC)–backed forces position after a major attack near Jabal al Ghima, Wadi Omran, Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, on June 25.[i]

Yemeni President Rashad al Alimi arrived in Hadramawt governorate on June 24.[ii] Alimi said that Hadramawt will manage its own finances, security, and administration during a speech to local security, military, and social figures.

AQAP launched a drone targeting the 1st Shabwani Defense Forces Brigade checkpoint near al Qanaa, Shabwah governorate, southern Yemen, on June 26.[iii]

Somalia Security Brief

Puntland State security forces arrested two IS–Somalia fighters from Sudan and Syria in the mountainous areas of Baladhidin district, Bari region, northern Somalia, on June 27.[iv]

The African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) transitioned two forward operating bases to the Somalia National Army in southern and south-central Somalia on June 27.[v] Burundian ATMIS forces handed over a base in Adale, Middle Shabelle region, south-central Somalia, and Ugandan ATMIS forces handed over a base in Albao, Mogadishu outskirts, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia.

Al Shabaab detonated several improvised explosive devices (IED) targeting civilians near Barire, Awdheegle district, Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, on June 24.[vi] The first IED destroyed a motorcycle, killing two civilians. At least two other IEDs detonated killing others that came to help after the initial explosion, killing three more people and wounding 15 others.