THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Somalia: Somaliland Leader Meets Israeli Defence Minister As Both ... Jerusalem — Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel and Somaliland had cooperated for years on a series of undisclosed operations, as he hosted Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro for talks focused on expanding security cooperation. Speaking alongside Irro, Katz said the two sides had conducted "a series of secret operations" over several years but declined to provide details about the nature of the activities, where they took place, or their objectives. Katz said Israel and Somaliland were now working to broaden their security partnership and strengthen cooperation, though he did not elaborate on specific projects or agreements under discussion. The meeting comes amid growing contacts between Israel and Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northern Somalia that is not internationally recognized as an independent state. Follow us onWhatsApp|LinkedInfor the latest headlines Analysts say Israel's interest in Somaliland is largely driven by the territory's strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and near the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the world's most importan…

Somaliland leader leaves door open to Israeli military base Security Somaliland leader leaves door open to Israeli military base June 18, 2026 By Ahmed Ali Sheikh Somaliland leader Abdirahman Irro stands with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz after their meeting in Jerusalem on Wednesday. (Somalia Today) SHARE Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Jerusalem (Somalia Today) — Somaliland leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, has said he could not rule out the possibility of an Israeli military base in the self-declared region in northwestern Somalia, while saying direct flights between Israel and Hargeisa would begin “very soon”. Irro made the remarks in an interview with i24NEWS during his visit to Israel, days after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opening what his administration called Somaliland’s first “embassy” in Jerusalem. Somalia has condemned Israel’s engagement with Somaliland, saying it violates the country’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and constitutional order. Asked whether an Israeli military base could one day be established in Somaliland, Irro did not rule it out. He said future arrangements would depend on how relations bet…

Israel-Somaliland security cooperation Training 50 personnel Share Facebook X LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest Reddit VKontakte Odnoklassniki Pocket Skype Messenger Messenger WhatsApp Telegram Viber Line Share via Email Print Vladimir Lysenko (I.) , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Israel-Somaliland security cooperation: British-Israeli reports on training forces in Tel Aviv Security movements are increasing in the Horn of Africa region amid a notable expansion in patterns of military cooperation between regional and international parties, with varying political and diplomatic positions regarding the nature of these relations and their implications for regional balances. Security training in Israel Israeli official radio revealed that Tel Aviv is working to rehabilitate and train security forces in the breakaway region of “Somaliland” in the Horn of Africa, as part of ongoing security cooperation between the two sides. The radio added that this cooperation has seen gradual development recently, within the framework of extended security relations between them. In the same context, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that 50 special forces personnel returned to the Somaliland …

New details emerge on Israel's growing ties with Somaliland New details emerge on Israel's growing ties with Somaliland A Somaliland official confirmed military personnel trained in Israel, as security cooperation expands following Israel's recognition. Israel National News Jun 4, 2026, 9:16 AM (GMT+3) Africa Somaliland 1 minutes Somaliland iStock A Somaliland official has confirmed reports that a military delegation has returned to the country after undergoing training in Israel, as defense cooperation between the countries grows just months after Israel officially recognized the African state. According to the reports, 50 members of the country's special operations forces are part of a cooperation program aimed at enhancing the combat and tactical capabilities of Somaliland's forces. Speaking to Kan News , the Somaliland official said that the training of his country's forces in Israel was "no big deal" and that the sides are cooperating "in a variety of fields." The official added that many things are being done behind the scenes since the two countries have many common enemies. Israeli officials have not denied the reports, but have declined to comment. The reports come six mo…

Israel deploys troops to Somaliland | Somali Guardian Share Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A senior Somali official has alleged that Israel deployed a small contingent of troops to Somaliland earlier this year, adding a new dimension to growing ties between Israel and the self-declared republic in northern Somalia, Middle East Eye reported on Monday. The report comes just days after reports suggested Israel had established an intelligence presence in Somaliland and amid increasing scrutiny of cooperation between Hargeisa and Tel Aviv in the strategically important Horn of Africa and Red Sea region. Israel became the first UN member state to recognise Somaliland as an independent state in December. Four months later, it appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Hargeisa, a move that drew condemnation from the Somali federal government. According to the senior Somali official, Israel deployed around 50 soldiers to Somaliland shortly after recognition and following the resumption of its war with Iran in late February. “According to our intelligence reports, the Israeli military selected Israeli soldiers of African heritage, especially Ethiopians, …

Somalia: Somaliland Leader Meets Israeli Defence Minister As Both Sides Signal Deeper Security Ties [Shabelle] Jerusalem -- Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel and Somaliland had cooperated for years on a series of undisclosed operations, as he hosted Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro for talks focused on expanding security cooperation.

Katz touts years-long ‘under the radar’ ties in meeting with Somaliland president <p>Defense minister says two nations seeking to take security ties to 'new heights'; his Somaliland counterpart dispels 'rumors' Israel in talks to build military base in country</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/katz-touts-years-long-under-the-radar-ties-in-meeting-with-somaliland-president/">Katz touts years-long &#8216;under the radar&#8217; ties in meeting with Somaliland president</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com">The Times of Israel</a>.</p> <figure><img src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/06/WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-17-at-11.53.35-1024x640.jpeg" title="Katz touts years-long &#8216;under the radar&#8217; ties in meeting with Somaliland president" border="0" width="160" height="100" class="type:primaryImage"></figure>

Israel fetes Somaliland’s leader as it seeks to expand Red Sea influence Six months after recognition, Israel and Somaliland say they are moving from symbolism to strategic cooperation.

Israel, Somaliland cooperating 'under the radar' for years: Katz Israel and Somaliland have been cooperating 'under the radar' for years, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed Wednesday during a meeting with the leader of the separatist...

Gateways to the Red Sea: The case for Israel-Somaliland normalization Often described as a rare island of stability amid regional fragility, Somaliland is increasingly attracting interest from both global and regional powers, including the United States and Israel. The Abraham Accords have redefined Israel’s geopolitical and economic standing in the Middle East by normalizing relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, forging partnerships once unthinkable. Ever since, much of the focus has been given to the prospect of normalization with Saudi Arabia, while the strategic and economic potential of relations with Somaliland has been largely overlooked. Somaliland’s location along the Gulf of Aden, with its 460-mile coastline near the strategically significant Bab al-Mandab Strait, positions it at the crossroads of global maritime security. With nearly a third of global shipping passing through this corridor, threats from piracy, weapon smuggling, and terrorist groups like al-Shabaab and the Houthis have drawn international concern​. For both Israel and the United States, Somaliland presents an opportunity for strategic collaboration. Israel and Somal…