Tel Aviv, Israel – Somalia has denied Israeli airline Arkia permission to fly through its airspace, a move that could force the carrier to divert its Thailand-bound flights onto longer routes, Israeli media reported Thursday.
The refusal comes amid a deepening diplomatic rift after Israel last month became the first country to formally recognise the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state.
According to a report by the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth (Ynet), Arkia has not received a renewal for its overflight permit for February, a critical corridor for Israeli flights traveling to Southeast Asia.
“If we do not receive approval by the beginning of February, the company will operate on an alternative route,” Arkia stated, noting that flight schedules would remain unchanged despite the diversion.
The airspace ban appears to be the first concrete retaliation by Mogadishu since Israel’s recognition of Somaliland on December 26, 2025.
While Arkia applies for permits monthly, Israel’s flag carrier El Al said the ban does not currently affect its operations, as its annual permit remains valid until March.
However, industry sources warn that El Al could face a similar blockade when its clearance expires, potentially threatening the viability of its popular routes to Bangkok and Phuket by adding significant fuel costs and flight time.
‘Dangerous precedent’
The standoff follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial decision to establish full diplomatic relations with Somaliland, a former British protectorate that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had lacked international recognition for 34 years.
Israeli officials framed the move as an agreement “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” aimed at bolstering regional stability.
The decision, however, sparked fury in Mogadishu, which considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory.
In a joint statement last month, the foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti condemned the move as a “clear violation of international law” and a “dangerous precedent” for the Horn of Africa.
Somalia’s government has since vowed to defend its sovereignty by “all necessary means,” with the airspace denial appearing to be an initial diplomatic lever.
Beyond the diplomatic row, the recognition reflects Israel’s growing strategic interest in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Analysts say ties with Hargeisa offer Israel a critical foothold near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a choke point for global shipping that has seen repeated attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in recent years.
Reports suggest the deal could grant Israel access to the port of Berbera for logistics or intelligence monitoring—a prospect that has alarmed both Mogadishu and its regional allies.
Until recently, Somalia’s airspace was managed from Nairobi, but the federal government in Mogadishu has reasserted full control over its Flight Information Region (FIR), giving it the authority to block overflights.
Arkia stated it is working with Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority and the Foreign Ministry to resolve the issue.
“This is not an act of provocation, but an opportunity to strengthen stability,” an Israeli official said of the recognition policy, though Somalia’s airspace closure suggests the move has immediately increased turbulence in the region’s skies.