The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be treated as a military target, arguing that it would constitute aggression against Somalia and Yemen and pose a direct threat to regional security.
In a statement issued on Sunday, al-Houthi condemned Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, describing the move as an attempt to establish a strategic foothold in the Horn of Africa. He said such a presence would threaten regional stability, particularly maritime routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
According to al-Houthi, Israel’s actions are part of a broader strategy aimed at fragmenting states in the region. He claimed that the recognition of Somaliland fits into what he described as a wider plan to reshape West Asia and the surrounding regions through political and territorial division.
Al-Houthi dismissed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as legally invalid, arguing that it violates established principles of international law and Somalia’s territorial integrity. He said the declaration carries no legal weight and represents an act of aggression rather than a legitimate diplomatic move.
He called for a unified Arab and Islamic response in support of Somalia’s sovereignty, urging regional and international institutions to take firm positions and to pressure what he described as collaborators within Somaliland. He also reiterated Yemen’s solidarity with the Somali people, stating that Ansarullah would provide “all possible supportive measures,” including military action if necessary, to prevent Somaliland from becoming an Israeli military base.
The Ansarullah leader also linked the issue to the Palestinian cause, warning that continued international inaction on Palestine, in his view, enables further Israeli actions across the region.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had formally recognized Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations. The decision prompted strong reactions across the region.
Somalia, the African Union, the Arab League, and several regional governments condemned the move, describing it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty. Addressing an emergency joint session of parliament on Sunday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Israel’s decision constituted the “greatest abuse” of Somalia’s sovereignty in the country’s history.
Mohamud urged the Somali population to remain calm while defending the unity and independence of the state, which he said was facing a serious external challenge. Somalia’s parliament unanimously passed a resolution declaring Israel’s recognition of Somaliland “null and void” and warning that individuals or institutions violating Somalia’s sovereignty could face legal consequences under domestic and international law.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the Somali state and a prolonged civil war. Despite maintaining de facto self-rule for decades, it has not been recognized as an independent state by any member of the United Nations.