Houthi leader declares Israeli presence in Somaliland a military target

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned on Sunday that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a “military target”, in his latest criticism of Israel’s move to recognise the breakaway region.

In a statement published by the Houthi-run Saba news agency, al-Houthi said they view “any Israeli presence in the Somaliland region as a military target for 

Houthi armed forces, as it represents aggression against Somalia and Yemen, and a threat to the security of the region”.

Israel became, on Friday, the first country to recognise Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia unilaterally in 1991.

Al-Houthi warned that the step would have serious consequences, saying that “the Israeli enemy seeks to make Somaliland a foothold for hostile activities against Somalia, African countries, Yemen and Arab countries, in a way that threatens the security of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden”.

For decades, Somaliland has sought international recognition. It occupies a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passports and armed forces.

READ: Arab countries condemn Israel’s recognition of breakaway Somaliland region