Yemen's Ansar Allah has warned that it will respond to any Israeli presence established in Somaliland, saying such a move would be viewed as a threat to the security of the Red Sea region and Yemen.

In a televised address broadcast by the movement's Al-Masirah television, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the group is closely monitoring developments in Somaliland and what he described as Israeli efforts to establish a strategic foothold overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea.

"We are closely monitoring developments in Somaliland and the enemy's attempts to transform it into a foothold to control the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea," al-Houthi said.

He called on Muslim-majority countries and states bordering the Red Sea to adopt a unified position to prevent what he described as further Israeli expansion in the region.

Al-Houthi stated that Yemen would not remain passive if Israel established a presence in Somaliland, saying the movement would act using "all available means."

He also urged regional governments to support the people of Somalia and strengthen efforts to prevent what he characterized as growing Israeli influence in the Horn of Africa.

The remarks reflect the Houthis' longstanding position that developments affecting the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait have direct implications for Yemen's national security and the broader region.

The statement follows a visit by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to Israel, during which he inaugurated Somaliland's representative office in Jerusalem.

Israel's recognition of Somaliland in late December 2025 prompted criticism from a number of regional actors, including the internationally recognized government of Somalia, which continues to regard Somaliland as an integral part of Somali territory.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated as a self-governing administration ever since, although it has received only limited international recognition.

The latest developments come amid heightened geopolitical competition around the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest maritime corridors. The Bab al-Mandab Strait remains a critical gateway for international trade and energy shipments linking the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal.

Regional analysts note that any expansion of military or security partnerships in the Horn of Africa is likely to draw close scrutiny from neighboring states and armed groups because of the area's strategic significance and its proximity to key global shipping lanes.

The situation continues to add another layer of complexity to an already volatile regional security environment, where rival political and military actors are competing for influence along one of the world's most important maritime routes. (ILKHA)