Israel says it expands covert security cooperation with Somaliland after troop reports

Israeli Troops Deployed To Somaliland In Covert Mission Via The Cradle Israel secretly deployed a small contingent of forces to Somaliland earlier this year following its recognition of the breakaway territory, a senior Somali government official revealed to Middle East Eye (MEE) on Monday. "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 senior Somali official stated. via Reuters The Somali official said that Israel had deployed a group of 50 soldiers to Somaliland shortly after the recognition and the resumption of the war on Iran in late February. On June 17, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz admitted to years of clandestine, "under the radar" security operations with Somaliland. During a high-level meeting in Tel Aviv with Somaliland’s visiting president, Israeli officials confirmed that Israel is now directly involved in training the breakaway region's military and police. "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. In early June, CNN reported that the breakaway republic of Somaliland had provided Israel with an additional military position on the Horn of Africa, allowing Israeli aircraft to "potentially stop" long-range flights to Iran. Israel's Channel 12 reported on 2 May that a senior official in Somaliland said the territory is ready to cooperate with Israel to confront what it described as the "threat" from the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) to the highly strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The official said that any "disruption of maritime security" would push Somaliland to expand its relations with Israel, including to the level of a security alliance. The official also noted that Somaliland currently cooperates with partners such as the US and the UAE, which maintain a presence in the territory’s Berbera Port, and said a similar partnership would be possible with Israel.  AA is probably not happy about this. Reminder that Abdul Malik al-Houthi recently said in a speech that they are monitoring developments on “Somali soil” and that they will mot hesitate to strike israeli bases. https://t.co/3hFw1vdnK5 pic.twitter.com/OEOy3Z2hYr — barry with the NED (@bonzerbarry) June 22, 2026 The UAE operates the Berbera Port, using it as a logistics hub to transfer arms and mercenaries to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which is responsible for committing alleged genocide against non-Arab tribes in Sudan. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, and in December 2025, Israel became the first and only UN member state to recognize it as an independent and sovereign state. Israel later appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Hargeisa in April, drawing worldwide condemnation. Tyler Durden Mon, 06/22/2026 - 23:25

Israel deployed troops to Somaliland after recognition, source says Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Mon, 06/22/2026 - 09:07 Senior Somali official says 50 Israeli soldiers with African descent are in the breakaway Horn of Africa state as part of bilateral security arrangements Somaliland red beret of the special forces prepare for the 35th Independence day celebrations near the presidential palace in Hargeisa's Shap neighbourhood on 18 May 2026 (Kang-Chun Cheng/AFP) Off Israel deployed a small contingent of forces to Somaliland earlier this year, a senior Somali government official told Middle East Eye. After becoming the first country to recognise the breakaway state of Somaliland as an independent nation in December, Israel appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Hargeisa in April. The move drew condemnation from almost all countries in the region. Now, however, a senior Somali official says Israel deployed a group of 50 soldiers to Somaliland soon after the recognition and the resumption of the 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 senior Somali official said. MEE reached out to the Israeli military, which declined to comment. “After checking with the relevant authorities, it is a matter for the political echelon,” it said. MEE’s attempts to reach the Somaliland government did not receive a response. UAE and Bahrain fail to join GCC condemnation of Somaliland opening embassy in Jerusalem Read More » Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel and Somaliland had been cooperating secretly for years. He made the remarks during a meeting with Somaliland’s visiting president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. “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. CNN reported earlier this month, citing sources, that Somaliland had provided Israel with an additional military site, potentially allowing Israeli aircraft to stop there during long-range flights to Iran. Many experts who closely follow Somaliland believe Israel is also seeking a naval base on the Red Sea to confront potential threats from the Houthis in Yemen. On Wednesday, Somaliland’s Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali said Israel has “no base” in Somaliland. But he added: “Israel is helping Somaliland... they are supporting us by training some of our police and military.” Somalia News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0