Israel deployed a contingent of #Ethiopian-origin Israeli soldiers to Somaliland earlier this year, according to a report by Middle East Eye (MEE) citing a senior Somali government official.
The unnamed official told the outlet that around 50 Israeli soldiers were sent to Somaliland shortly after Israel formally recognized the self-declared republic in December 2025.
According to the official, the soldiers were selected from Israelis of African heritage, “especially Ethiopians,” to avoid drawing attention and to blend in more easily with the local population.
Israeli military declined to comment on the allegation, while Somaliland authorities did not respond to requests for comment, the report further said.
This comes amid growing security cooperation between Israel and Somaliland.
During a meeting last week with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the two parties had “cooperated under the radar” for years through operations that remain classified.
While speculation has grown as of late over the possibility of Israeli military infrastructure in Somaliland, Somaliland Defense Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali denied that Israel operates a military base there.
Source:-AS.