Israel sent troops to Somaliland after recognition, source says

Monday June 22, 2026

Somaliland red beret of the special forces prepare for the 35th Independence day celebrations near the presidential palace in Hargeisa’s Shap neighbourhood on 18 May 2026 (Kang-Chun Cheng/AFP)

Mogadishu (HOL) — Israel reportedly deployed a small contingent of troops to Somaliland earlier this year, weeks after it recognized Somaliland as a country, a senior Somali government official told Middle East Eye.

The official said Somali intelligence reports indicated that about 50 Israeli soldiers were sent to Somaliland soon after the recognition and after the resumption of Israel’s war with Iran in late February.

“According to our intelligence reports, the Israeli military selected Israeli soldiers of African heritage, especially Ethiopians, so as not to draw attention to themselves and to blend in more easily with the local community,” the senior Somali official said.

The reported deployment has not been independently confirmed. Neither the Israeli military nor Somaliland authorities have publicly commented on the allegation.

The report comes amid growing scrutiny of security ties between Israel and Somaliland following recent meetings between senior Israeli officials and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israel and Somaliland had cooperated secretly for years.

“For many years, we cooperated under the radar in a series of operations that will remain classified,” Katz said during a meeting with Abdullahi. “Now we are determined to bring our security cooperation to new heights, for the benefit of both peoples and for the benefit of stability in the region.”

Katz did not publicly confirm any Israeli troop deployment to Somaliland.

Somalia’s federal government has strongly opposed Israeli engagement with Somaliland, calling it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but it has not received broad international recognition as a sovereign state. Somalia’s federal government maintains that Somaliland remains part of Somalia.