Israel on Friday announced it is officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic since 1991
\n Sanaa
\nThe leader of Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels has warned any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a \u201cmilitary target\u201d, in the latest condemnation of Israel\u2019s move to recognise the breakaway region.
\n\u201cWe consider any Israeli presence in Somaliland a military target for our armed forces, as it constitutes aggression against Somalia and Yemen, and a threat to the security of the region,\u201d said the group\u2019s chief, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, according to a statement published by rebel media online.
\nIsrael announced on Friday that it is officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic that in 1991 declared it unilaterally separated from Somalia.
\nThe Houthi chief warned that the move carried grave consequences, saying that recognition is \u201ca hostile stance targeting Somalia and its African surroundings, as well as Yemen, the Red Sea, and the countries along both shores of the Red Sea\u201d.
\nSomaliland, which has for decades pushed for international recognition, enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own money, passport and army.
\nRegional analysts say a rapprochement with Somaliland would provide Israel with better access to the Red Sea, enabling it to hit Houthi rebels in Yemen.
\nAfter launching its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Israel repeatedly struck targets in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on Israel, which the Yemeni rebels said were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
\nThe Houthis have halted their attacks since a fragile truce began in Gaza in October.
\nSomaliland has been diplomatically isolated since its unilateral declaration of independence, even if it has generally experienced greater stability than Somalia, where al-Shabab fighters periodically mount attacks in the capital, Mogadishu.
\nIsrael\u2019s recognition of Somaliland was criticised by the African Union, Egypt, Turkiye, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
\nThe European Union insisted that Somalia\u2019s sovereignty should be respected.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Israel on Friday announced it is officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic since 1991 Sanaa The leader of Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels has warned any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a \u201cmilitary target\u201d, in the latest condemnation of Israel\u2019s move to recognise the breakaway region. \u201cWe consider any Israeli presence in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":522883,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-522856","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n