SouthernWorldwide.com – Iran is reportedly feeling a significant threat from Somaliland, a small African nation that declared independence, due to the potential for the United States, Israel, and other Western powers to utilize its deep-water port and airbase.
This development could severely disrupt Iran’s strategy of using its proxy, the Houthi terror group in Yemen, to launch attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Iran has been accused of encouraging the Houthis to resume their attacks on maritime traffic, particularly in the crucial Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. This waterway has become the primary route for oil exports from the Middle East to Asia, especially since the Strait of Hormuz has become effectively inaccessible.
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According to Daftari, editor-in-chief of The Foreign Desk, this is why Iran-backed Houthis are openly threatening to target any U.S. or Israeli military presence in Somaliland. They have also warned of their ability to disrupt the Bab el-Mandeb if the conflict with the U.S. and Israel intensifies.
Fitton-Brown, a former UK ambassador to Yemen, stated that Iran opposes any recognition of Somaliland, primarily because Israel was the first state to recognize it, and Iran inherently opposes Israeli actions. Furthermore, Iran is strongly against any engagement by the U.S. and UAE with Somaliland, even if it falls short of formal recognition. Somaliland represents a potential base for operations against the Houthis, thus posing a threat to Iran’s network of influence.
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While the U.S. already maintains a significant base in Djibouti on the Red Sea, Fitton-Brown suggests this location is becoming increasingly problematic. China is rapidly expanding its military and commercial footprint in Djibouti, raising concerns about its reliability as a U.S. ally. Consequently, Somaliland’s emergence as a strategic option is seen as timely.
The Somaliland government has also offered storage facilities for Tomahawk missiles, a move described by a government source as a “unique way to advance security interests.”
Adam highlighted that U.S. destroyers that deplete their missile batteries in the Red Sea currently face a travel time of up to two weeks for resupply. Somaliland’s readiness to assist the U.S. in securing global trade routes is presented as a practical solution.
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Ekman further elaborated on the strategic dilemma. While the U.S. enjoys good access in Djibouti, this access is singular and faces competition from China’s growing presence. Securing access to the port of Berbera in Somaliland would provide a vital backup option and a different kind of partner. The U.S. military, along with some allies, urgently needs port access in Berbera.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, is a strong proponent of the U.S. fully recognizing Somaliland through diplomatic channels.
A former senior U.S. defense official confirmed that American military specialists have been collaborating with Somaliland forces since 2023. This cooperation was instrumental in the operation that neutralized Bilal al-Sudani, who was reportedly a key figure in facilitating and financing the global network of ISIS.
However, the U.S. officially aligns with Somalia, the country from which Somaliland declared its independence in 1991.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has conducted airstrikes in northern Somalia, in conjunction with the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali Armed Forces, to weaken ISIS’s capability to threaten the U.S. homeland, its forces, and its citizens abroad. In southern Somalia, AFRICOM has also worked closely with the Federal Government of Somalia to conduct airstrikes that enable partner forces to degrade al-Shabaab. The U.S. approach to counter-terrorism in Africa is built on trusted partnerships and collaboration rooted in shared security interests.
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Daftari added that Somaliland is offering the United States a capability that Iran’s leadership fears most in this region: an alternative, resilient platform on the African coast. This platform includes an airfield, a port, and over-the-horizon access, which would diminish the Houthis’ leverage and provide Washington with strategic options beyond reliance on Djibouti or partners in the Persian Gulf.
