Sanaa: When the leader of the revolution, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, vowed to target any Israeli presence in what is known as the Somaliland region, he was acting from a keen understanding of the danger posed by the Israeli enemy's presence there to the entire region, not just Yemen. He stated, "We will not wait for the hesitant and complacent regimes. Rather, we will take the initiative whenever the Israeli enemy establishes any presence in Somaliland by targeting it with all available means."
According to Yemen News Agency, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Abdul-Wahid Abu Ras, had previously emphasized the heavy price of any silence regarding this danger. He said, 'Silence regarding Zionist movements will come at a heavy price,' emphasizing that 'the security of Yemen and the region is a red line.' The threat posed by the Israeli presence in Somaliland is seen as a direct risk to Yemen's security and the broader Arab national security.
The strategic implications of an Israeli foothold in Somaliland are significant. Yemen perceives itself as an imminent threat to Israel through its missiles, drones, and ability to impose a maritime blockade in the Red Sea. An Israeli presence in Somaliland would shorten the geographical distance in its conflict with Yemen and grant control over maritime traffic at the southern gateway to the Red Sea, posing a threat to Arab national security.
Moreover, Yemen is fully aware of the Israeli enemy's plans and is closely monitoring the situation in the region. Any Israeli military presence will be targeted directly, underscoring Yemen's commitment to countering threats to the Arab region. Yemen's leader affirms that they will not wait for hesitant regimes but will take the initiative against any Israeli presence.
The broader ramifications are not limited to Yemen alone. An Israeli presence would tighten the noose around Arab islands and ports along the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Gulf, threatening Arab national security. Israel's potential exploitation of its allies in the region would enable intelligence operations and military expansion, but Yemen remains a strong guardian against such ambitions.
Yemen is vigilant of Israeli diplomatic moves to establish relations with Somaliland, which is considered a separatist region not recognized by the central Somali government. Israel's recognition of Somaliland is viewed as a "deliberate attack" on Somalia's sovereignty, potentially dragging Somalia into conflicts contrary to its national interest and threatening the Horn of Africa's stability.
The Somali Guardian website noted that the Israeli presence in Somaliland represents a redrawing of the geography of conflict in the region, endangering international navigation and transforming the Horn of Africa into a new battleground. Observers believe that Israel's recognition of Somaliland in December 2015 was part of a broader strategy to confront the "axis of resistance" amid international isolation following aggression against Gaza.