In a troubling development, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth has revealed that the Houthi threat to Israel is no longer limited to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. It now extends through a strategic expansion into the Horn of Africa and Sudan.
The newspaper warned of the growing influence of the Iran-backed Houthis in countries such as Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, where they aim to establish forward operating bases to threaten both Israeli and international maritime routes in the Red Sea.
According to UN reports, the Houthis have held direct meetings with Al-Shabaab, the Somali terrorist organization, as well as with other Sunni extremist groups, in order to exchange military training and logistical support in return for an escalation in piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.
Israeli expert Danny Citrinowicz stated that the Houthis have become Iran’s operational spearhead in Africa, leading a strategy to recruit local tribes, such as the Afar in Djibouti, by offering economic and military support—similar to Iran’s support for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Citrinowicz emphasized that the Houthi threat extends beyond Yemen, posing a greater strategic risk to Israeli and Western interests. He called for broader regional cooperation, including Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, to stabilize trade routes and confront the growing Iranian influence.
He concluded:
“Despite their tactical success, U.S. airstrikes have not established real deterrence. The Houthi presence in Africa is likely to flourish unless dealt with strategically.””
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