MOGAISHU (SD) – President Hassan Sheikh, for the first time, announced that Somalia is part of the Saudi and UAE-led Arab coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia supports Somalia in its battle against the Houthis.

During an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hassan Sheikh also claimed that Al-Shabaab and ISIS factions in Somalia aim to seize control of the Red Sea and Indian Ocean coastline, allegedly in coordination with the Houthis in Yemen.

Previously, President Hassan attempted to send Somali troops to support the Saudi-Emirati coalition in Yemen, but the plan failed. Instead, Somalia strengthened ties with Iran—a move that angered Saudi Arabia, which accused Iran of backing the Houthis. However, the coalition’s strategy has since evolved, with the Houthis gaining more power, forcing Saudi Arabia to reconsider its approach.

Recently, Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations with Iran (mediated by China in 2023), easing tensions. As a result, Riyadh also pressured the U.S. to halt airstrikes on Houthi targets in Saudi territory to de-escalate hostilities.

Last week, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman visited Tehran, delivering a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to strengthen Saudi-Iran relations. This shift aligns with President Hassan’s efforts to secure Saudi support amid changing regional dynamics.