Gulf of Aden Security Review - July 7, 2023

Yemen: AQAP targets UAE-backed forces with drone in Shabwah; AQAP fighters detonate VBIED and IED targeting anti-AQAP forces in Abyan; AQAP targets STC forces in Abyan; Yemeni Interior Ministry arrests IS official in Mahra; AQAP fighter detonates SVEST targeted UAE-backed forces headquarters

Somalia: Al Shabaab detonates numerous IEDs targeting a joint US-Somali convoy in southern Somalia; Somali police arrest a suspected suicide bomber near an event with the Somali president in Mogadishu; KDF thwart an al Shabaab suicide bombing in northeastern Kenya; al Shabaab ambushes Kenyan police; Somali special forces clear al Shabaab from areas in north-central Somalia

Yemen Security Brief

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighters launched a drone targeting UAE-backed Shabwani Defense Forces (SDF) in Shabwah governorate. The drone attack wounded one SDF fighter.[i]

AQAP fighters detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) inside a Southern Transitional Council (STC)-backed Security Belt Forces headquarters in the Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate on July 3.[ii] Separately, AQAP fighters detonated an IED targeting a UAE-backed forces’ ambulance in Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, on July 4.[iii]

AQAP claimed responsibility for two IED attacks on STC–backed forces vehicles resulting in the injury of a battalion commander in al Baqira village, Mudiyah district, Abyan governorate on July 5.[iv]

Yemeni Interior Ministry said it arrested an Islamic State “intelligence officer” in Mahra governorate, eastern Yemen, on July 2.[v]

A likely AQAP fighter detonated a suicide vest (SVEST) targeting a guesthouse used as a headquarters for the Giants Brigades and SDF in Bayhan district, Shabwah governorate, southern Yemen, on July 7.[vi]

Somalia Security Brief

Somali police arrested a suspected al Shabaab suicide bomber in Mogadishu Stadium, Yaqshid district, Mogadishu, on July 1.[vii] The attempted attack took place during Independence Day celebrations where the Somali president and other government officials were present.

Al Shabaab militants ambushed Kenyan police in the Ogorweyn area, Mandera County, northeastern Kenya, on July 5.[viii] Kenyan officials said the police killed 20 al Shabaab fighters and sustained eight injuries.

US-trained Danab and Turkish-trained Gorgor special forces cleared al Shabaab from several villages near Gal’ad, in El Dheere district, Galgudud region, north-central Somalia, on July 5.[ix]

Al Shabaab detonated six IEDs targeting a joint US-Somali military convoy along a road near Janay Abdalle, Afmadow district, Lower Jubba region, southern Somalia, on July 6.[x] Al Shabaab claimed the attack caused 12 Danab casualties and numerous US casualties, while US Africa Command said that no Americans died.[xi]

Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) forces thwarted an al Shabaab suicide bombing and shot down an al Shabaab drone near a KDF military base in Sarira, Lamu County, northeastern Kenya, on July 6.[xii]