The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported, citing an Israeli official, that the occupation state’s recognition of Somaliland constitutes a step that would enhance the capabilities of the Israeli occupation air force in the context of confrontation with Yemen and Iran.
According to what the newspaper نقلed from an unnamed Israeli military source, establishing open relations with Somaliland would provide the occupation’s air force with broader operational options. The source considered the step to be of great importance for what he described as the “long Israeli arm”.
Maariv stated that the Israeli intelligence service, the Mossad, has for years overseen the management of the network of relations with Somaliland, noting that the head of the agency, Dedi Barnea, has in recent years become one of the close associates of the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
The newspaper quoted the same source as saying that Barnea established a strong personal relationship with Chad, based on professional and personal trust, which enabled the development of extremely close military and political relations between the two sides.
The official added that the head of the Mossad worked over the past years to prepare infrastructure in Somaliland to enhance security cooperation between the two parties, pointing out that the region possesses strategic assets, including a seaport and an airport with the longest runway on the African continent.
In contrast, Somalia announced in a statement on Friday its rejection of the Israeli step, stressing its “absolute and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity”.
The government said in the statement that Somalia will not allow the establishment of any foreign military bases or arrangements on its territory that could drag it into proxy conflicts or import regional and international hostilities into the area.
Somalia also called on Sunday on Arab states to “stand firmly against the repeated Israeli aggressions” and to work on adopting “serious policies to limit their repetition and continuation”. This came during a meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States at the level of permanent representatives in Cairo, chaired by the United Arab Emirates.
Based on Somalia’s request and with the support of the rest of the Arab states, the Council decided on Saturday to convene this meeting to discuss developments related to Israel’s announcement of recognition of the so called Somaliland region, according to a statement by the League.
On Sunday, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, strongly condemned the Israeli announcement, saying it represents a clear aggression against the country’s independence. He added in a speech before parliament that “this announcement is an absolutely unacceptable step and constitutes a blatant violation of international law”.
In this context, former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called for the formation of a tripartite alliance comprising Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to deal with the recent developments related to “Somaliland”, following the Israeli occupation’s recognition of it.
Davutoglu added in a lengthy statement on his X account that the occupation’s recognition of Somaliland comes as part of its strategy to divide Islamic countries and encircle key states by neutralising them, considering the step to be deeply concerning.
