File image.
Turkey deployed three F-16 fighter jets to Aden Adde International Airport near the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on January 29, the Middle East Eye reported.
Somali officials familiar with the matter told the news outlet that Ankara has been constructing a facility to host the F-16s over the past few months.
Turkish engineers have reportedly been working at the international airport for several days to prepare the site for the arrival of the jets, according to MEE, which also reported, citing recent satellite images, that several new hangars have been constructed at the airport since September.
Open-source data indicates a number of Turkish cargo flights have taken place in the past ten days, possibly delivering spare parts and ammunition for the jets.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense has not yet confirmed the deployment of the F-16s.A source familiar with the deployment told MEE that the jets were sent to Somalia precursor to Ankara’s plans to send an oil exploration platform to the country.
The platform will start to drill off the Somali coast later this year. A spaceport project in northern Mogadishu is also in the planning stages.
The Turkish military trained thousands of Somali soldiers both in Turkey and at its Mogadishu base, known as Turksom, to fight Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups. It also deployed combat drones, such as the TB2 Bayraktar and Akinci, at the country. Last year, it was also reported that three T129 Atak attack helicopters were sent to Mogadishu.
The deployment of the F-16s, however, likely goes beyond the scope of securing Turkish investments or combating terrorist groups.
Last month, Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia as an independent and sovereign state. Turkey was among the first countries to condemn this move, along with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Somalia responded earlier this month by ending all security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates, citing alleged breaches of the country’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence.
Abdu Dhabi, which cultivated deep economic and security ties in Somaliland in recent years, was suspected of playing a role in the Israeli decision.
Considering these recent developments, it is safe to assume that the Turkish decision to deploy F-16s in Somalia is meant as a warning to Somaliland, as well as to both Israel and the UAE.
Turkey is not, however, the only country moving to counter this merging alliance in Somaliland. A report by Bloomberg from earlier this month revealed that Saudi Arabia is finalizing an agreement on a new military coalition with Somalia and Egypt.
Egypt is already working to expand its military mission in Somalia in recent weeks, according to a recent report by The National. More recent rumors from Egyptian media suggest that Cairo could go as far as deployed F-16s at Baledogle Airfield, which is located near Mogadishu.
While Turkey has so far operated in Somalia on its own, it won’t be surprising if it ends up joining the coalition being woven by Saudi Arabia.
It is still unclear if these countries are willing to actually take action to push Israel and the UAE out of the war-torn country, of if they are just expanding their presence there as a counterweight.
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i do not believe turkey and egypt are going to fight for the somalian population. ever. they follow the orders of the pirate globalists. always. deception is a key element of warfare.
deception satan’s weapon the great deceiver who hates the truth the father of all lies. the hypocrite proclaiming free speech.
turkey is pushing a “security buffer” against northwestern iranian border just like they did in syria against assad. they’re using the same exact “colour revolution” playbook on iran as they did in iraq, libya, and syria. they’re ready to support separatists and terrorist groups just like they did in syria.
they’re just all being played by the war team leader. its obvious. and no its not israel just as obviously. its a turd party who seem unimportant.