SANA’A (SD)— A senior member of Yemen’s Houthi political bureau, Mohammad al-Bukhaiti, has warned that the group would target any Israeli military or intelligence presence in Somalia or other areas near Yemen’s borders.

According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, al-Bukhaiti made the remarks on Wednesday amid rising tensions around the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The warning follows a series of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. A recent attack on a cargo vessel transiting the Bab al-Mandab reportedly killed six people and injured 10 others. The Houthis claimed the vessel was carrying military equipment bound for Saudi Arabia, although that allegation has not been independently verified.

Somaliland Becomes Part of the Wider Security Equation

The latest warning is particularly significant for Somaliland, which has increasingly attracted international attention because of its strategic coastline along the Gulf of Aden and its proximity to the Bab al-Mandab.

The Houthis have previously warned against a potential Israeli military or intelligence presence in Somaliland, arguing that such a presence could threaten Yemen.

From Somaliland’s perspective, the threat demonstrates both the strategic value and growing security risks associated with its geographic location. Somaliland’s proximity to one of the world’s most important maritime corridors makes it increasingly attractive to countries seeking to protect international shipping and strengthen their regional security capabilities.

However, the Houthi warning also highlights a potential danger for Hargeisa. If Somaliland expands military or intelligence cooperation with Israel, it could become more directly exposed to the Israel-Houthi confrontation.

The development reinforces the argument that Somaliland is becoming an increasingly important actor in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden security environment.

For Hargeisa, this could strengthen its case for deeper international partnerships and recognition. Somaliland can argue that its long coastline, relatively stable security environment and proximity to the Bab al-Mandab make it a potentially valuable partner in protecting commercial shipping and combating maritime threats.

At the same time, Somaliland must carefully manage the risks associated with becoming strategically aligned with one side of a wider Middle Eastern confrontation.

The immediate priority should therefore be protecting Somaliland’s territorial security while maintaining control over the nature and limits of foreign military cooperation.

The Houthi statement does not, by itself, establish that Israel currently maintains a military or intelligence base in Somaliland. Claims concerning such facilities should be independently verified.

Nevertheless, the warning is significant because it shows that Somaliland’s growing relationship with Israel is being noticed by actors involved in the wider Red Sea conflict.

As tensions continue to rise around the Bab al-Mandab, Somaliland’s strategic importance is likely to increase—but so too will the pressure on Hargeisa to balance diplomatic opportunity with national security.