SANA’A – Yemen’s Houthi authorities have warned they will oppose any alleged Israeli efforts to expand influence in Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region, framing the issue as part of broader regional tensions linked to the Red Sea corridor.
In a statement issued by the Houthi-run foreign ministry and carried by Houthi-affiliated media outlets, the movement said it rejects what it described as “Israeli schemes” in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somaliland, a self-declared republic that Somalia considers part of its sovereign territory.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen including the capital Sana’a, did not provide evidence for their claims but said they would closely monitor developments in the region. They argued that any foreign military or intelligence presence they perceive as aligned with Israel would represent a threat to both Yemen’s national security and wider regional stability.
The statement comes amid unconfirmed reports in regional media of growing diplomatic or security-related contacts between Israel and Somaliland authorities. Neither Israel nor Somaliland has officially confirmed such engagement at a governmental level.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized, has in recent years sought to expand diplomatic ties and attract foreign investment and security partnerships. The federal government in Mogadishu continues to reject any move toward international recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have become increasingly strategic and volatile waterways, with multiple regional and international actors competing for influence along key shipping routes. The Houthis themselves have been involved in maritime tensions in the area, including attacks on vessels they say are linked to Israel or its allies, in the context of the wider Israel-Gaza war.
Analysts say such statements reflect the growing overlap between local territorial disputes in the Horn of Africa and wider Middle Eastern geopolitical rivalries, particularly involving Iran-aligned groups and Israel.
There was no immediate response from Israeli officials regarding the Houthi statement.
The situation remains fluid, with regional actors closely watching developments that could further complicate security dynamics across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.
