The leader of Yemen's Houthi movement has threatened to target any Israeli presence in Somaliland , accusing Israel of seeking to establish control over strategic waterways linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi made the remarks in a televised speech on Thursday during mass events held in Sanaa and other cities to mark Ashura.
He said his movement was "closely monitoring developments in Somaliland and what the Israeli enemy is doing with the aim of controlling the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea", adding: "We will move at any time to target any activity or presence of the Israeli enemy in Somaliland."
Al-Houthi said his movement "will not stand idly by" in the face of what he described as Israeli attempts to control navigation in the Red Sea.
He also called on countries bordering the Red Sea to adopt "a united position" towards what he described as Israeli activity in the region, while urging them to support Somalia in confronting "the Israeli targeting that constitutes a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and a danger to the region".
The Houthi leader also reaffirmed continued coordination with groups opposed to Israel in the region, saying his movement "will not hesitate to fulfil its duty in the event of any new act of aggression on any front, foremost among them Gaza".
He also congratulated Iran on what he described as "its great victory over the enemies of the nation", saying it represented "an important victory for the entire Axis of Resistance".
The comments come days after Somaliland's foreign minister, Abdirahman Tahir Adam, said he did not rule out the possibility of Israel establishing a military base in the breakaway state, according to Israeli news website Ynet .
Last December, Israel became the only country in the world to recognise Somaliland, which has ruled itself since 1991, as an independent country. The recognition drew condemnation from countries in the region and around the world, which affirmed support for the territorial integrity of Somalia. YNet reported that the military base issue was discussed during meetings between Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and Israeli officials including Defence Minister Israel Katz, with Israel considering the base to be of vital strategic importance.
According to the report, Israel sees Somaliland as offering a significant geopolitical and security advantage in the Horn of Africa because of its location overlooking the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, saying the attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians targeted by Israel's genocidal war in Gaza. Ynet reported that an Israeli military presence in Somaliland would provide Tel Aviv with a strategic foothold near one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints and could be used to support military and security operations against the Houthis in the future.