Israel deploys troops to Somaliland

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A senior Somali official has alleged that Israel deployed a small contingent of troops to Somaliland earlier this year, adding a new dimension to growing ties between Israel and the self-declared republic in northern Somalia, Middle East Eye reported on Monday.

The report comes just days after reports suggested Israel had established an intelligence presence in Somaliland and amid increasing scrutiny of cooperation between Hargeisa and Tel Aviv in the strategically important Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.

Israel became the first UN member state to recognise Somaliland as an independent state in December. Four months later, it appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Hargeisa, a move that drew condemnation from the Somali federal government.

According to the senior Somali official, Israel deployed around 50 soldiers to Somaliland shortly after recognition and following the resumption of its war with Iran in late February.

“According to our intelligence reports, the Israeli military selected Israeli soldiers of African heritage, especially Ethiopians, so as not to draw attention to themselves and to blend in more easily with the local community,” the official said.

The Israeli military declined to comment directly on the allegation when contacted by Middle East Eye.

“After checking with the relevant authorities, it is a matter for the political echelon,” the military said.

Somaliland authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

The report surfaced as Israeli and Somaliland officials publicly highlighted what they described as a long history of cooperation between the two sides.

During a meeting on Wednesday with visiting Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel and Somaliland had worked together secretly for years.

“For many years, we cooperated under the radar in a series of operations that will remain classified. Now we are determined to bring our security cooperation to new heights, for the benefit of both peoples and for the benefit of stability in the region,” Katz said.

The remarks offered one of the clearest public acknowledgements to date of longstanding security cooperation between Israel and Somaliland.

Earlier this month, CNN reported, citing sources, that Somaliland had provided Israel with an additional military facility that could potentially serve as a stopover point for Israeli aircraft conducting long-range flights to Iran.

The report fuelled further speculation about Israel’s growing strategic interest in Somaliland, whose location along the Gulf of Aden places it near some of the world’s most important maritime routes.

Many analysts who closely follow developments in Somaliland believe Israel is also interested in securing a naval presence on the Red Sea to counter potential threats posed by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

Somaliland Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali rejected suggestions that Israel operates a military base in Somaliland.

“Israel has no base in Somaliland,” he said.

However, he confirmed ongoing cooperation between the two sides, adding: “Israel is helping Somaliland… they are supporting us by training some of our police and military.”

The latest allegations are likely to intensify debate over the expanding relationship between Israel and Somaliland, a partnership that has drawn regional attention since Israel’s recognition of the territory and could carry wider implications for security dynamics across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.

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