Yemen’s Houthis warn Israel against presence in Somaliland

(MENAFN) Houthi rebels in Yemen have announced that any Israeli presence in the breakaway region of Somaliland will be considered a legitimate military target. The warning comes shortly after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the territory’s independence.

In a statement issued Sunday, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said that Israel’s recognition represents “aggression against Somalia and Yemen, and a threat to the security of the region,” adding that the group will “consider any Israeli presence in Somaliland a military target for our armed forces.”

The group, which had paused attacks on Israel since a Gaza truce in October, framed the declaration as an expression of solidarity, accusing Israel of pursuing “hostile activities.”

The statement follows a declaration signed by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Friday, officially recognizing Somaliland as a sovereign state. West Jerusalem became the first government to extend formal recognition.

Somaliland, situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden in East Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has largely remained unrecognized internationally.

Netanyahu said the decision was made “in the spirit” of the Abraham Accords and invited Somaliland’s president for an official visit.

Somalia’s government condemned the recognition as a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty. Reports indicate that Israel’s move has sparked widespread international criticism, with a coalition of nations and organizations rejecting the recognition.

Critics include Egypt, Türkiye, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, and the European Union, all reaffirming their support for Somalia’s territorial integrity. US President Donald Trump reportedly indicated that he has no current plans to follow Israel’s lead.

The African Union cautioned that the decision “risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent,” reaffirming that Somaliland remains part of Somalia.

Experts have suggested that Israel’s recognition may be strategically motivated, potentially granting access to Somaliland’s port of Berbera, which could improve Israel’s ability to monitor or strike Houthi positions in Yemen via the Red Sea.

MENAFN30122025000045017640ID1110538045