Yemen’s Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned Friday his group is serious about targeting any Israeli military presence in Somaliland. He delivered the warning in a televised address marking the anniversary of the killing of the group’s founder, Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi.
The speech aired on Al Masirah TV, where al-Houthi framed his message as both a memorial and a declaration. His remarks followed Israel’s Dec. 26 announcement recognising Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.
Israel became the first country to recognise the breakaway region, a move that sparked sharp criticism across the wider region. Critics described the recognition as illegal and dangerous, warning it threatens international peace and regional security.
Al-Houthi said his group supports the Somali people and views developments in Somaliland as a direct regional threat. He warned the issue endangers Yemen, neighbouring states, and vital waterways including the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
“There must be practical positions,” he said, pledging continued monitoring and readiness to strike any Israeli military base. He added the Houthis would not hesitate to target any fixed Israeli position they are able to reach militarily.
Al-Houthi accused Israel of exploiting Somaliland’s strategic coastline to advance its interests and control key maritime routes. He said the territory’s overlook of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden makes it a tempting gateway for regional influence.
The Houthi leader also cited a recent visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland, calling it covert. Saar visited the region on Jan. 6, in what was described as the first such trip since Israel’s recognition announcement.
There was no immediate response from Israeli officials to the Houthi statements aired on Friday. Somaliland has functioned as a self-governing entity since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. Despite decades of de facto autonomy, the region has not received broad international recognition as a sovereign state.