From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Meeting Somaliland president, Katz says nations have been cooperating ‘under the radar’ for ‘many years’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Israel Katz, during a meeting with visiting Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, says the two nations have been cooperating “under the radar” for “many years.”
“For many years, we cooperated under the radar in a series of operations that will remain classified. Now we are determined to bring our security cooperation to new heights, for the benefit of both peoples and for the benefit of stability in the region,” he says, according to remarks published by his office.
Located in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland enjoys a strategic position across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, where the Houthis hold territory, making it strategically valuable for Israel.
Abdullahi is making his first state visit abroad since becoming president. In December, Israel became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991.
From the Israeli side, the meeting was also attended by the head of the IDF’s Planning Directorate, Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, senior Defense Ministry officials, and Israel’s designated ambassador to Somaliland.
On the Somaliland side, the country’s defense minister, presidential affairs minister, army chief, president’s chief of staff, deputy intelligence chief, and designated ambassador to Israel, participated.
The Times of Israel Community.