Houthis would target any Israeli presence in Somaliland, leader warns Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Sun, 12/28/2025 - 21:34 The Houthi leader warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be a threat to Yemen and Somalia A Yemeni lifts a portrait of Huthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi (AFP) Off The leader of Yemen’s Houthi group has issued a stark warning to Israel over its recognition of Somaliland, calling any Israeli presence in the breakaway region a “military target.” “We consider any Israeli presence in Somaliland a military target for our armed forces, as it constitutes aggression against Somalia and Yemen, and a threat to the security of the region,” Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a statement released online on Sunday. Israel officially recognised Somaliland on Friday, a first for the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991, in a move condemned internationally. The recognition also drew criticism from key regional players, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar. Al-Houthi condemned the recognition as a “hostile stance targeting Somalia and its African surroundings, as well as Yemen, the Red Sea, and the countries along both shores of the Red Sea,” warning that it could carry serious consequences for regional stability. Strategically positioned on the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland has long sought international recognition. Regional and international condemnation Saudi Arabia 's foreign ministry affirmed its full support for the "unity and territorial integrity" of Somalia. "The Kingdom expresses its rejection of the announcement of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the Somaliland region, considering it an action that entrenches unilateral secessionist measures that violate international law," it stated. It added that Riyadh rejected attempts to impose "parallel entities" that undermine Somalia's unity, and said it supported the "legitimate institutions of the Somali state". Somaliland: How Trump, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others reacted to Israeli recognition Read More » Turkey 's foreign ministry said the recognition was "yet another example of the Netanyahu government's unlawful actions aimed at creating instability at both the regional and global levels". "This step by Israel, whose expansionist policies persist and which spares no effort to prevent the recognition of the State of Palestine, amounts to an explicit intervention in Somalia's internal affairs," it said. On Saturday, Qatar 's foreign ministry added its name to the list of countries to reject the recognition. Analysts suggest Israel’s engagement with Somaliland could expand its Red Sea access, potentially allowing it to attack Yemen. Israel has repeatedly targeted locations in Yemen since the outbreak of its war on Gaza in October 2023. The Houthis have been one of the few regional actors that have sought to respond to the Israeli genocide through military means. The Houthis have paused their attacks following a fragile truce in Gaza initiated in October. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has drawn widespread condemnation from the African Union, Egypt, Turkey and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, based in Saudi Arabia. The European Union stressed that Somalia’s sovereignty should be upheld. Inside Yemen News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0