Yemen's Houthi rebel leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has issued a warning to Israel following its recent recognition of Somaliland. Al-Houthi stated that any Israeli presence in Somali territory would be considered a military target, emphasizing opposition to perceived violations of Somalia's sovereignty and potential security threats to the Horn of Africa. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has operated autonomously but has not been recognized by any country until Israel's announcement on Friday.

The move has also drawn condemnation from Al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based militant group, which pledged to resist any Israeli involvement in Somaliland. Somalia, currently presiding over the United Nations Security Council, has called for an urgent session to address Israel's recognition of Somaliland, with discussions expected to take place soon. The situation has heightened tensions in the region, with both militant groups and national governments voicing strong opposition.