Sanaa continues to monitor any Israeli presence in the Somaliland region, the leader of Ansar Allah, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, reaffirmed on Thursday.
Sayyed al-Houthi described the situation in Somaliland as “highly significant for us, as it poses a threat to Yemen and the peoples of the region,” adding that “this is an issue we can never remain silent about.”
He accused "Israel" of persistently seeking to advance its objectives in Somaliland due to its strategic location near the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, warning that its efforts to control key waterways threaten the entire region and aim to “fragment and weaken the nation.”
The leader of Ansar Allah also framed the movement’s vigilance as part of preparations for a future confrontation, stating, “The conflict with the Israeli enemy, and with the Americans, whether directly or through proxies, is inevitable.”
Regarding unrest in Iran, Sayyed al-Houthi asserted that “what the enemies have done in the Islamic Republic is a US-Israeli targeting operation carried out through criminal gangs.”
He emphasized that the large public turnout during funerals of those killed in protests reflects the Iranian people’s true identity, their commitment to their Islamic system, and their resistance to US influence.
Turning to Gaza, Sayyed al-Houthi slammed "Israel" for failing to uphold most of the terms of the ceasefire agreement, noting that a blockade largely remains in place, alongside daily killings and ongoing attacks and destruction. He asserted that recent events validate Yemen’s position in supporting Gaza in the war.
This comes as "Israel" seeks to increase its footprint and presence in the Horn of Africa region, most notably by recognizing the breakaway region of Somaliland, and more recently announcing deepening relations with Ethiopia.
On January 14, "Israel" and Ethiopia announced they are taking measures to enhance their diplomatic and strategic ties, with senior officials from both countries holding meetings to address regional challenges and explore opportunities for cooperation, all occurring amid ongoing tensions in the Horn of Africa.
On January 12, "Israel" described Ethiopia as a “long-term strategic partner” and stated that it is working to strengthen and deepen relations after talks between Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hadera Abera Admassu
Admassu arrived in "Israel" for a visit of unspecified duration, during which he and Saar discussed regional challenges and potential opportunities for cooperation, with Saar describing the meeting as “great” in a post on social media platform X and emphasizing Tel Aviv’s intention to strengthen ties with Addis Ababa further.
The Israeli occupation officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an “independent” and “sovereign” state following a joint declaration signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah.
Somaliland hosts a major Emirati military presence at Berbera, developed by the UAE to project power across the Horn of Africa and the southern Red Sea, support operations linked to Yemen, restrict Ansar Allah’s operational depth, and limit Saudi exposure along key shipping lanes, all of which benefit "Israel".
US military planners have long viewed Somaliland as a strategic logistics hub near the Bab al-Mandab strait, while Israeli security officials reportedly seek access and intelligence cooperation to monitor Red Sea traffic and Resistance-aligned movements in Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
The recognition aligns with this security architecture, granting political cover to an already entrenched military and intelligence presence, and positioning "Israel" alongside Washington and Abu Dhabi in shaping Red Sea security, controlling maritime routes, constraining Ansar Allah, and reinforcing a regional bloc extending from occupied Palestine to East Africa.
Furthermore, "Israel" could use Somaliland to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza in accordance with Trump's Riviera plan, with Israeli expert on American affairs Eido Dambin telling iNEWS24 on December 27, 202,5 that Somaliland had been suggested as a potential location to host Gaza residents as part of the Gaza Riviera plan that Trump launched more than six months ago.