Yemeni Security Forces

Yemeni Tribal Levies / ?
Central Security Organization / 50,000
Criminal Investigative Department / 15,000
Political Security Organization / 150,000
National Security Bureau / ?
Presidential Guard / ?
Republican Guard / ?
Army / 100,000
Navy / 3,400
Air force / 5,000

Yemeni Tribal Forces

The Tribal levies function as a reserve that can be called up in case of civil or political insurrection, but do not constitute a viable counter-terrorism force. In recent years, Yemen has come to rely on trained paramilitary forces instead of tribal levies to maintain order. The tribal levies are comprised of troops and draw conscripts from tribes that are loyal to the Saleh government. Recently, The United States has also hired tribesman to hunt Al-Qaeda in the Shabwa province. Hassan Bannan, a leader of one of the Awalik branches in Shabwa told The Associated Press that more than 2,500 tribesmen have been divided into small groups to carry out daily searches. The tribal levies are not well trained and I was unable to find any records of the Yemeni government directly supplying the Tribal levies with weapons, however government corruption plays a essential role in the tribal supply chain.

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The GoY allows well connected merchants and tribal representatives to engage in large scale weapons importation from the FSU, some western European dealers and China; the GoY has often stipulated that a percentage of the imported weapons, including heavy weapons go to the Sana’a’s stockpile as a “tax”. GoY officials are also bribed to turn a blind eye to dockworkers that siphon weapons from government shipments. Additionally, poor record keeping in military stockpiles permit Yemeni officers to transfer weapons to relatives for tribal possession or for profit. (RAND: Regime and Periphery in Nothern Yemen 39 and 40)

Although tribal equipment varies widely, commonly observed weaponry includes 7.62 mm Kalashnikov automatic assault rifles of various classes including modern Russian variants with bipods and extended barrels, FnFAL and G-3 rifles, eastern block semi-automatic pistols, hand grenades, RPGs, assembled bombs, and dynamite (RAND 197)

It is difficult to accurately assess how many tribal fighters could be called upon in case of an emergency, and even Yemeni tribal leaders are capable of grossly overestimating their capabilities in this area. For example, in July 2008, Husein al-Ahmar, a chief in the Hashid tribal confederation promised to raise a “people’s army” of tribal soldiers 20,000 to battle the insurgency in Saada province , however according to an expert on Yemen, his army only recruited around 500 troops. (Source)

President Salih's rule has been characterized by adept management and use of Yemen's tribes and tribal alliances. Salih’s system of government has long relied on a patronage system that trades influence, money, jobs and government positions for loyalty. However, the drop in Yemen’s revenue has resulted in a contraction of the once generous patronage system. Shaykhs from less powerful tribes have already seen their benefits cut or eliminated by the regime in its attempt to reduce costs. This has resulted in increased tension between the state and several tribes because curtailment of patronage is seen by many shaykhs and their constituents as an assault on the honor of the tribe and its shaykh. Tribal allegiances are fluid in several parts of Yemen, and in February 2011, Tens of thousands of members from both the Hashid tribe and Baqil, the second largest tribal federation in Yemen, marched in Emran to denounce the president and demand his ouster. Saleh has relied heavily on his tribe and its connections for support. The defections threaten to further erode his power base at a time when the country is also facing a separatist movement in the south and trying to combat growing al-Qaida activity.

(Source)) (Source) (Source) (RAND: Regime and Periphery in Nothern Yemen 199)

Para-military

Central Security Organization

Chief of Staff of the Central Security Organization - Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh (Source)

The Central Security Organization is classified as a part of the Ministy of Interior. It is comprised of 50,000 people and led by President Seleh’s nephew, Yahya Saleh. The CSO are equipped with a range of infantry weapons and armored personnel carriers. The CSO also maintains a paramilitary force and has its own extrajudicial detention facilities. (Source) (Source)

Counter Terrorism Unit

Head of the Counter Terrorism Unit – Yahya Saleh

The Counter Terrorism Unit is a quick-reaction force under the control of the CSO in the Interior Ministry. The CTU is barracked in a special compound at the Central Security Forces headquarters in Yemen's capital, Sana’a. They have been trained by the United States since 2002 and have gained skills ranging from close-quarters combat and descending from helicopters on ropes to mountaineering.

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Police

Criminal Investigative Department

Founded in 1972, the police’s Criminal Investigative Department (CID) makes most arrests and conducts most criminal investigations. The CID is also responsible for counter-narcotics operations, and the regulation of firearms. The total strength of the CID is estimated to be 13,000 personnel. (Source) (Source) (Source)

Secret Service / Intelligence Apparatus

Political Security Organization

Yemen’s primary and most feared internal security and intelligence-gathering force is the Political Security Organization (PSO), led by military officers; it reports directly to the president and operates its own detention centers. There are an estimated 150,000 personnel in the PSO. (Source)

Recruitment

At lower levels of recruitment the PSO uses financial rewards and other positive inducements to garner participation in its activities. Coercion is also used at these levels. Forms of negative persuasion could include arrest and/or threats to family members. The professor stated that as a practice the PSO typically has an informant present at gatherings known as "Qat Chew". These encounters are very common and involve the chewing of narcotic leaves while engaging in conversation. (Source)

National Security Agency

Director of the National Security Bureau - Ali al-Ansi (Source)

In 2002 the government established the National Security Bureau, which reports directly to the president and appears to have similar responsibilities to those of the PSO, but is designed to work in closer cooperation with foreign governments in gathering and analyzing intelligence on foreign threats to national security. (Source) (Source) (Source) (Source)

Other Security Services

Presidential Guard

Head of the Presidential Guard - Tariq Saleh (presidents nephew)

The Yemeni equivalent of the U.S. Secret Service. (Source)

(I know that doesn’t help much)

Military

United States Foreign Aid

The United States has proposed $250 million in military aid to Yemen. This figure is up from $150 million in for 2010 and $67 million in 2009.The sum does not include covert U.S. assistance for Yemen, which has quietly increased in recent months. The funding will be used to supply equipment to and training for Yemen's counterterrorism forces. Washington had reduced aid to (Source) (Source)

Army

The Yemeni army is organized into 8 armored brigades, 16 infantry brigades, 6 mechanized infantry brigades, 1 airborne commando brigades, 3 artillary brigades, 1 surface-to-air missile (SAM) brigade, 1 special operations brigade, 2 air defense battalions and a central guard force. Their total personnel strength is 100,000 troops, including approximately 40,000 reservists. Their equipment is almost exclusively Russian in origin with the exception of a few ground combat vehicles, howitzers and anti-tank missiles from the United States. (Source)

Navy

The Yemeni navy has a personnel strength of 3,400 including 500 port police and 1,200 coast guard personnel. No details on the organization of Yemen’s navy are available. The Yemeni fleet is comprised of 58 ships including patrol craft, small combatants ships, landing crafts, mine warfare ships, and auxiliary ships however, most vessels are either non-operational or in poor condition The primary Yemeni naval bases are located in Aden and Hodeida, with secondary bases located in Mukalla, Perim, Socotra and Al Katib. (Source)

The Yemeni Coast Guard, working through private companies, is renting out servicemen and patrol boats—including vessels given to Yemen by the U.S.—for commercial ships seeking armed escorts against piracy. The U.S. donated the boats for use in protecting Yemen's coastline against terrorists and other security threats. Four Yemeni officials familiar with the private security details said they are done for profit and involve high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Interior and the nation's Coast Guard Authority, which falls under the ministry. (Source)

Foreign Assistance

· In July 2006, the U.S. donated 10 new patrol boats to the Yemeni coast guard. These boats were said to have contained advanced technology. (Source)

· In December 2006, France began to set up a costal radar network that stretches from the Al Khokhah coast on the Red Sea to the Shabwah coast on the Arabian Sea. It is designed to connect Yemeni coast guard stations and checkpoints to protect against terrorist attacks or maritime spying operations. (Source)

Air Force

The Yemeni Air Force has a personnel strength of 5,000 active-duty personnel, including 2,000 air defense forces. They are organized into 1 ground attack fighter squadron, 3 fighter squadrons, 1 transport squadron, 1 helicopter squadron, 1 attack helicopter wing, 1 training squadron and 1 air defense battalion with 30 SAM batteries. The air force has roughly 140 aircraft including approximately 50 helicopters, although many have been deemed not air worthy. Additionally, due to a lack of trained personnel, quite a few of the new Yemeni aircraft have to be flown by Russian and Ukrainian pilots. The air force stations most of its aircraft at the international airport in Sana’a. (Source)

Republican Guard

Commander of Republican Guard - Ahmed Saleh (The president’s son)

President Saleh created the Republican Guards, which was a new military agency, completely separate from the army and originally commanded by the President's brother. These troops were recruited mainly from the President's own tribe. It was given sophisticated weapons including tanks, and wide privileges to counterbalance any threats that might come from the army. Recruitment for the Republican Guard is mainly from Hashid , the President’s own tribe.

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Yemeni Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) (Source)

Yemeni CTU (Source)

Yemeni Republican Guard (Source)

Commander of the Republican Guard Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh (Source)

President Saleh inspecting Republican Guard troops (Source)

Yemeni Central Security Organization (Source)

CSO troops

Commander of the CSO Yahya Saleh (Source)