Washington (Somalia Today) — The leader of Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region has said he would welcome a future Israeli military presence on the territory, arguing that closer security cooperation could provide protection and strengthen deterrence.
“There is no Israeli security presence in Somaliland yet, but perhaps there will be one in the future,” Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro told Yedioth Ahronoth during a visit to Washington.
“We will cooperate with any friendly country, and we need security partners, including Israel,” he said. “If Israel is present, it will provide deterrence. We need protection. I do not rule out Israel or the United States establishing a presence here.”
Irro said the possibility had not yet been formally discussed with Israel, despite reports cited by Yedioth Ahronoth that Israeli security officials had already visited Somaliland.
His remarks go further than previous statements by Somaliland officials, who had acknowledged growing military cooperation with Israel while denying that talks were under way over establishing an Israeli base.
Security ties expand
Somaliland Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali told Reuters in June that Israel was providing training to police and military personnel in the breakaway region, but dismissed reports of negotiations over a military base as rumours.
“There is no Israeli military presence or military bases in Somaliland,” Ali said at the time.
Irro had also told Reuters earlier this year that Somaliland wanted to develop military cooperation with Israel, but said the two sides had not discussed establishing Israeli bases.
Relations have expanded rapidly since Israel formally recognised Somaliland on December 26, 2025, becoming the first UN member state to do so.
Somalia rejected the decision as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while the African Union reaffirmed its position that Somaliland remains part of Somalia.
Irro led a delegation to Israel in June as the two sides sought deeper cooperation in security, technology, agriculture and investment.
He told Yedioth Ahronoth that Somaliland has about 25,000 soldiers and a coastguard of roughly 1,500 personnel, but said the region could benefit from additional military technology and training.
“We have enough military strength to defend ourselves,” he said, “but perhaps we need technology and training.”
Red Sea tensions
Irro’s comments come as tensions increase across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with Iran-aligned Houthi forces expanding their presence towards the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Houthi forces captured Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday and advanced towards the Hanish Islands, strengthening their position near the narrow waterway separating Yemen from the Horn of Africa.
The Bab al-Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and forms a critical maritime route for ships travelling between Europe and Asia.
Somaliland lies directly across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, while its port and airfield at Berbera have increasingly featured in discussions about possible Western and Israeli security operations in the region.
Irro said, however, that Somaliland currently had no direct confrontation with the Houthis.
“We have been neighbours with Yemen and the Houthis for thousands of years, and as a country we currently have no direct conflict with them,” he told Yedioth Ahronoth.
The possibility of an Israeli military presence has drawn particular scrutiny because of Somaliland’s proximity to Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab.
Somalia has repeatedly rejected foreign agreements involving Somaliland without the federal government’s approval, maintaining that the breakaway region remains part of Somali territory.
Gaza troop offer
Irro also told Yedioth Ahronoth that Somaliland would be prepared to contribute up to 2,000 soldiers to a planned international force expected to support security arrangements and demilitarisation in Gaza.
The remarks follow his separate statement this week that the breakaway region was not volunteering troops but would respond positively if formally asked to contribute.
Irro also rejected suggestions that closer relations with Israel included plans for Somaliland to receive Palestinians from Gaza, saying the issue was not relevant to the region.
He said Israel’s recognition had opened opportunities for cooperation in security, trade and the economy, while acknowledging that the new relationship had also created political risks.
“There are no free lunches,” Irro said. “We created enemies for ourselves because of the recognition, including Somalia and countries outside Africa that provide Somalia with weapons and intervene on the side of our rivals.”
Irro accused foreign governments of providing Somalia with weapons and other military support, citing Turkish aircraft, and claimed Somali officials had threatened to invade Somaliland following Israel’s recognition.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported the claims as part of its interview. Somalia Today could not independently verify them.
Turkey is one of Somalia’s closest defence partners and operates a major military training facility in Mogadishu. Ankara has strongly opposed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and continues to support Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Israel remains the only UN member state to formally recognise Somaliland as independent. At the same time, Somalia and almost all other governments continue to regard the breakaway region as part of Somali territory.