Yemen: Al Houthi-Saleh forces claim to attack Saudi-led coalition warship near Taiz governorate, western Yemen; AQAP releases video about June 12 attack on Emirati-backed forces in Hadramawt; Transitional Political Council of the South delays first meeting

Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab raids Somali National Army (SNA) base near Beledweyne, Hiraan region; Kenyan security forces interdict al Shabaab IED attack in Wajir County; clan militiamen clash along Hiraan-Galgudud border

Yemen Security Brief

Al Houthi-Saleh forces claimed to attack a Saudi-led coalition warship near the coast of Taiz, western Yemen, on June 14. Al Houthi-Saleh forces reported firing a “sophisticated” weapon from Mokha district, western Taiz governorate. The Saudi-led coalition has not yet issued any statement about an attack in the Red Sea. Militants also attacked a commercial oil tanker near the coast of Taiz on May 31.[1]

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a short video about its June 12 attack on an Emirati-backed Hadhrami Elite Forces checkpoint and base in Daw’an area, eastern Hadramawt. An accompanying AQAP statement reported that militants killed 15 Hadhrami Elite troops, destroyed three military vehicles, and suffered one casualty. Initial reports from local security forces stated that Hadhrami Elite Forces killed over ten AQAP militants and suffered two casualties.[2]

The Transitional Political Council for the South postponed its first meeting. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place on June 13 in al Mukalla city, Hadramawt governorate. The Council's media committee stated that about half of members of the council were unable to travel to the meeting. The Council formed on May 11 and comprises 26 prominent southern political, tribal, and military leaders. Two members of the council, Hadramawt Governor Ahmed Bin Brik and Socotra Governor Abdullah al Socotri, met with Saudi officials in Riyadh on June 10.[3]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

Al Shabaab raided a Somali National Army (SNA) base in Dan Subagle village near Beledweyne, Hiraan region, central Somalia on June 14. SNA forces repelled the attack. The group also claimed responsibility for unconfirmed attacks on Egyptian and Djiboutian African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers in Bulu Burde, Jalalaqsi and Halgan towns in Hiraan region.[4]

Kenyan security forces interdicted an al Shabaab improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Wajir county, eastern Kenya on June 13. Kenyan police killed one al Shabaab militant and arrested five others as they planted IEDs along a road. Kenyan security forces arrested several al Shabaab recruits traveling through Wajir County on June 7. Al Shabaab killed approximately 30 Kenyan security officers in eastern Kenya in the past month.[5]

Clan militiamen clashed in Benyaley town, along the border between Hiraan and Galgudud regions, on June 14. The inter-clan clashed killed seven people and wounded ten others. This marks the second instance of inter-clan violence in Galgudud in two days.[6]

[1] “Navy announces the targeting of a warship off the coast of aggression Mokha,” al Masirah, June 14, 2017, https://www.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9261&cat_id=3.

[2] “Demonstrating Heightened interest in Media Efforts, AQAP releases Video of Attack one day Prior in Hadramawt,” SITE, June 14, 2017, https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Multimedia/demonstrating-heightened-interest-in-media-efforts-aqap-releases-video-of-attack-one-day-prior-in-hadramawt.html.

[3] “Postponement of the Southern Council in Hadramout # - reasons,” Barakish, June 13, 2017, http://barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=480812.

[4] “Al shabaab militants raid SNA base near Beledweyne,” Shabelle News, June 14, 2017, http://www.shabellenews.com/2017/06/al-shabaab-militants-raid-sna-base-near-beledweyne/; and “Shabaab Says “Heavy Losses” Incurred by AMISOM and Somalia Troops in Attacks in Four Cities in Hiran,” SITE Intelligence Group, June 14, 2017, available by subscription athttps://ent.siteintelgroup.com/.

[5] Shmuel Yosef Agnon, “Kenya Security Forces Kill One Al-Shabaab Militant, Arrest 5 In Wajir County NEP,” Intelligence Briefs, June 13, 2017, http://intelligencebriefs.com/kenya-security-forces-kill-one-al-shabaab-militant-arrest-5-in-wajir-county-nep/.

[6] “Seven killed in Inter-clan fighting in central Somalia,” Shabelle News, June 14, 2017, http://www.shabellenews.com/2017/06/seven-killed-in-inter-clan-fighting-in-central-somalia/#.

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