The French newspaper Le Monde reported yesterday that a significant, and largely concealed, military transformation is underway at Berbera Airport, located roughly seven kilometers west of Berbera’s city center. Once primarily a civilian facility, the airport is now reportedly being reshaped into a strategic military installation involving multiple foreign actors.
The report, based on satellite imagery analysis and information from security and military sources, points to extensive construction activity between October 2025 and March 2026. Images reviewed by the newspaper show at least 18 trenches excavated south of the runway, later filled with containers and reburied. According to a European security source cited by Le Monde, these structures are consistent with “underground ammunition depots or fuel storage facilities,” a hallmark of hardened military infrastructure designed to withstand aerial attack. The report also highlights the construction of elevated platforms, which analysts interviewed by the paper interpret as likely foundations for air defense systems. This assessment is based on similarities with Emirati-built military installations elsewhere in the region, particularly in Bosaso, the largest city in Puntland State, Somalia.
Crucially, the report attributes the construction to the United Arab Emirates, operating under its long-standing defense agreement with Somaliland signed in 2017. However, Le Monde goes further, citing local and security sources who claim the Emirati-led work is being carried out “on behalf of both the United States and Israel.”
Similarly, Le Monde reports that Somaliland intelligence personnel have discreetly traveled to Tel Aviv for “training,” while Israeli intelligence operatives have reportedly been observed visiting Berbera. This echoes earlier reporting by Paris based newspaper Africa Intelligence, which reported that Israeli security and intelligence teams spent months in Somaliland weeks before Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
These developments come at a critical moment. In December 2025, Somaliland secured its first formal recognition from Israel, a move that triggered strong reactions from Somalia and its allies. The African Union, the Arab League, and several countries – including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and neighboring Djibouti – issued firm condemnations.
Somaliland, however, has framed the recognition as a major diplomatic breakthrough. Since then, it has moved to deepen ties with Tel Aviv, with discussions reportedly focused on trade and investment. There have also been persistent, though unconfirmed, reports about the possibility of a military base in Somaliland, which officials in Hargeisa have denied. More recently, Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency, a key ally of president Abdirahman Abdullahi Irro, stated that “we aren’t taking anything off the table,” signaling openness to expanded strategic cooperation.
At the same time, discussions around a potential military base have gained momentum amid a widening regional crisis tied to the war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. These dynamics are increasingly centered on the Red Sea corridor, particularly around the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen. The Houthis have threatened maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints, and have declared their involvement in the conflict. On March 28, they fired cruise missile toward Israel.
Within this context, Berbera occupies a uniquely strategic position. It lies directly across from Yemen, within operational reach of Houthi-controlled territory, and sits at the southern gateway to the Red Sea, allowing for close monitoring of maritime traffic. The airport also features one of Horn’s longest runways – over four kilometers. Reports suggest Israeli military teams have already visited the site and may view it as a forward projection platform for operations toward Yemen.
Despite the depth of Le Monde’s investigation, several key elements remain unconfirmed. There has been no official announcement of a trilateral agreement establishing a military base, and no publicly disclosed treaty between Israel and Somaliland granting basing rights. What is clear, however, is that Berbera is undergoing a major transformation, from a regional airport into a site of growing military and strategic importance.
Taking these into context, the reporting points to the emergence of Berbera as a potential new pivot of power in the western Gulf of Aden. Driven by regional conflict dynamics, growing great-power competition, and Somaliland’s ongoing quest for international recognition, the site appears to be evolving into a multi-layered strategic asset. Whether it ultimately becomes a permanent base for Israel, a shared facility under Emirati oversight, or a flexible staging ground for U.S. operations remains uncertain. What is increasingly evident, however, is the trajectory – Berbera is no longer peripheral, it is becoming central to the security architecture of the Red Sea corridor.
Geeska
