New York Times: “Israel” Expands Its Influence in the Horn of Africa Under the Pretext of Confronting Ansar Allah
The newspaper warns of the Bab al-Mandab turning into an arena of international conflict amid escalating U.S. airstrikes in Somalia.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The New York Times reported that the United States is carrying out one of the most intense aerial bombing campaigns in Somalia, noting that American forces have conducted approximately 150 airstrikes since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.
The newspaper added that Trump expressed disdain for Somalia, describing it as “not even a country,” in reference to what it characterized as the hardline American approach toward the Somali file.
Regional Concern Over Israeli Expansion Near Bab al-Mandab
The newspaper explained that Israel’s access to areas of influence in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is raising significant concern among countries in the region, particularly in light of the growing activity of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) in Yemen.
It emphasized that any Israeli positioning in the strategic location of Somalia near the Bab al-Mandab Strait could push the region toward further tension and turn it into a focal point of open regional and international conflict.
Somaliland… Israel’s Gateway to the Red Sea
According to the report, discussions about Israeli movements in Somaliland are linked to security calculations related to confronting the Houthis. The newspaper cited Israeli experts as claiming that strengthening a presence in that area could limit the impact of Yemen’s military power in the Red Sea.
The New York Times concluded that this trend signals the potential transformation of the Horn of Africa into a new arena of competition, under security justifications tied to escalation in Yemen and international maritime routes.
