Israel deployed a small contingent of forces to Somaliland earlier this year, a senior Somali government official told Middle East Eye.
After becoming the first country to recognise the breakaway state of Somaliland as an independent nation in December, Israel appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Hargeisa in April.
The move drew condemnation from almost all countries in the region.
Now, however, a senior Somali official says Israel deployed a group of 50 soldiers to Somaliland soon after the recognition and the resumption of the 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.
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MEE reached out to the Israeli military, which declined to comment.
“After checking with the relevant authorities, it is a matter for the political echelon,” it said.
MEE’s attempts to reach the Somaliland government did not receive a response.
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Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel and Somaliland had been cooperating secretly for years. He made the remarks during a meeting with Somaliland’s visiting president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
“For many years, we cooperated under the radar in a series of operations that will remain classified. 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 said.
CNN reported earlier this month, citing sources, that Somaliland had provided Israel with an additional military site, potentially allowing Israeli aircraft to stop there during long-range flights to Iran.
Many experts who closely follow Somaliland believe Israel is also seeking a naval base on the Red Sea to confront potential threats from the Houthis in Yemen.
On Wednesday, Somaliland’s Defence Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali said Israel has “no base” in Somaliland.
But he added: “Israel is helping Somaliland… they are supporting us by training some of our police and military.”
