Somaliland delegation representative backs military cooperation with Israel — Jerusalem Post

In Israel, Ahmed Dirie, chair of the executive committee of the Israel-Somaliland Friendship Association, said he supports a military partnership between the sides that could potentially involve an Israeli military presence in Somaliland. He said this in a comment to the Jerusalem Post.

Dirie, who heads a delegation that arrived in Israel, called Somaliland’s location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait strategically important. When asked whether Somaliland was ready to allow an Israeli military presence, he answered affirmatively. In his assessment, Israel’s assistance could help Somaliland counter the Houthis and strengthen security in the area of the strait.

Mutual defense proposal

Dirie also said he sees the possibility of an agreement under which Israel and Somaliland would help each other in the event of an attack. He described military cooperation as one of the key areas of future relations, alongside business contacts and mutual protection.

Dirie voiced the claim about a threat from the Houthis as his own assessment. According to him, the Houthis allegedly intend to attack both Somaliland and Israel, so the sides should counter them jointly.

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Previous statements by officials

In June, Somaliland’s Defense Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali told Reuters that there was no Israeli military presence in Somaliland and that no talks on establishing a base were underway. At the same time, he confirmed that Israel trains Somaliland’s military personnel and police officers.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi previously said that the issue of an Israeli military presence had not been discussed, but did not rule out such a development in relations in the future. This month, he also told the Jerusalem Post that Somaliland is currently not in conflict with the Houthis and that his government had not discussed the possibility of using its territory or airspace for Israeli operations against the group.

Dirie also mentioned Somaliland’s willingness to join international stabilization forces in Gaza. Earlier, Abdullahi said that Somaliland was ready to provide up to 2,000 troops if it received a relevant request, but the country had not yet received such a request.