Illustrative image. (The Houthis’ Military Media)
The leader of the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen said on January 16 that his group is “serious” about targeting any Israeli military presence in the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland.
In a televised address, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated that the group is closely monitoring “Israeli activity” across the Gulf of Aden.
He went on to warne that any military base or position established by Israel in Somaliland would be considered a “legitimate target.”
“We are serious about targeting any Israeli presence in Somaliland—military bases and the like,” al-Houthi said during a speech marking the anniversary of the death of the group’s founder. “We will not hesitate to target any fixed Zionist presence that is accessible to us.”
Last month, Israel recognized Somaliland, which claims the northwestern part of what was once the British Protectorate in northern Somalia.
The region declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but has failed until the accord with Israel to secure the recognition of any United Nations member state.
Somalia has strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, arguing that the move constituted a breach of its sovereignty.
The reaction of the Houthis was expected. Somaliland is located less than 300 kilometers away from Yemen, specifically from the country’s Red Sea coast that is mostly controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthis ,who over the past two years waged a military campaign against Israel in support of the Gaza Strip.
Israel could use the region to stage all sorts of intelligence and military operations against the Houthis. There are even two well-equipped airports there, Berbera and Hargeisa Egal.
The threat by al-Houthi was not, however, the only reaction to the Israel recognition Somaliland. Earlier this week, Somalia ended all security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates, citing alleged breaches of the country’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence.
The direct reason behind the Somali decision was an investigation that was launched after Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of smuggling the leader of its main proxy group in Yemen, the Southern Transitional Council, via Somaliland after withdrawing its own forces from the country.
There was a deeper reason behind the Somali decision, however. The UAE, which cultivated deep economic and security ties in the northern Somali region in recent years, is suspected of playing a key role in securing the Israeli recognition of Somaliland.
Interestingly, the Houthis’ stance on the Somaliland issue put them on the same side with Saudi Arabia, which is reported to be formulating a military coalition with both Somalia and Egypt with the apparent aim of countering UAE and Israel influence in the breakaway region.
In a step that may be related to the upcoming coalition, Egypt broadened its military mission in Somalia in recent weeks, according to a report by The National, which is based in the UAE.
Coordination between the Houthis and the emerging Saudi-led alliance on the Somaliland issue could be beneficial for both sides. Nevertheless, without progress in the Yemeni peace process, the kingdom is unlikely to cooperate with the group on anything.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
success is developing on the southern section west of vasiukivka, where forces have consolidated on the outskirts of the strategically important settlement of nykyforivka. ukrainian units use nykyforivka as a logistical node.
.………………… https://psee.io/8jqu9r