The leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a “military target”, according to a statement published Sunday (December 28, 2025), in the latest condemnation of Israel’s move to recognise the breakaway region. “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,” said the group’s chief Abdulmalik al-Houthi, according to a statement published by rebel media online. Also read: Somalia denounces Israeli recognition of SomalilandIsrael on Friday (December 19, 2025) announced that it was officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic that in 1991 declared it had unilaterally separated from Somalia. Regional analysts believe that a rapprochement with Somaliland would provide Israel with better access to the Red Sea, enabling it to hit Houthi rebels in Yemen. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland was criticised by the African Union, Egypt, Turkiye, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Source: The Hindu December 29, 2025 08:19 UTC