Al-Bukhaiti made the remarks on Wednesday, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, as tensions continue to rise around the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the key maritime routes connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

He said the Houthis would regard any Israeli military or intelligence deployment in Somalia or nearby areas as a potential target, linking the warning to what the group views as Israel’s expanding regional presence.

The threat comes amid renewed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

On Tuesday, an attack on a cargo vessel travelling through the Bab al-Mandab reportedly killed six people, including four members of the ship’s crew and two Yemenis who were involved in rescue efforts.

The Houthis claimed the vessel was carrying military equipment destined for Saudi Arabia, although the allegation has not been independently verified.

The attack also reportedly injured 10 people, further raising concerns over the safety of commercial vessels using the waterway.

Warning Over Somaliland

Al-Bukhaiti’s latest remarks also reinforce previous warnings from the Houthis concerning any potential Israeli presence in Somaliland.

The group has previously argued that an Israeli military or intelligence foothold in Somaliland could pose a direct security threat to Yemen because of the territory’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, relatively close to the Bab al-Mandab strait.

The issue has gained additional attention following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and the subsequent discussion about expanding relations between the two sides.

Any Israeli security cooperation in the territory could potentially attract greater scrutiny from regional actors, particularly the Houthis, who have repeatedly presented themselves as opponents of Israeli influence in the Red Sea region.

Bab al-Mandab’s Strategic Importance

The Bab al-Mandab strait is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and provides a major shipping route between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Any sustained disruption in the area can therefore have consequences well beyond Yemen, potentially affecting shipping costs, insurance premiums, delivery times and international trade.

The latest Houthi warning consequently adds another layer to the growing security concerns surrounding the Red Sea. It also raises questions about the potential consequences if Israeli-Somaliland relations develop into security or intelligence cooperation.

For Somalia and Somaliland, the issue could become particularly sensitive because of the country’s strategic position across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen.

Increased military activity or intelligence cooperation involving outside powers could potentially draw the region deeper into the wider confrontation surrounding the Red Sea.

For now, there is no publicly confirmed evidence establishing the presence of Israeli military or intelligence facilities in Somaliland or elsewhere in Somalia.

Al-Bukhaiti’s remarks should therefore be viewed as a warning of potential action rather than confirmation of an existing Israeli military deployment.

Nevertheless, the threat highlights how developments in Somalia and Somaliland are increasingly being viewed through the wider strategic competition surrounding the Red Sea, Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab corridor.

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