JERUSALEM (SD) – The Israeli government has formally rejected reports alleging that Israeli military personnel have been deployed to Somaliland following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland’s independence in December 2025.

The claims originated from a report published by the news outlet Middle East Eye on June 22, which cited an unnamed Somali government official who alleged that Somali intelligence services had received information indicating that approximately 50 Israeli soldiers had been sent to Somaliland.

Responding to the report, the Israeli Embassy in France dismissed the allegations, describing them as unfounded and inaccurate.

In a brief statement, the embassy said there were no Israeli military forces deployed in Somaliland and characterized the report as a “baseless fabrication.”

“The information is false,” the embassy stated, without providing additional details.

The allegations emerged amid growing attention on relations between Israel and Somaliland following recent diplomatic and security cooperation agreements between the two sides.

Despite widespread speculation in regional media, no independent evidence has been publicly presented to confirm the presence of Israeli military personnel in Somaliland.

For its part, Somaliland has repeatedly denied reports suggesting that foreign troops, including Israeli forces, have been deployed on its territory.

The Israeli denial reflects the sensitivity surrounding growing Israel-Somaliland relations, particularly in the strategically important Red Sea region. While reports of Israeli troop deployments have generated significant attention, no independently verified evidence has emerged to support the claims. The controversy highlights how increased cooperation between Israel and Somaliland is likely to remain a focus of regional political and security debates.