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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-16 at 02:07
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
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HEADLINES
Egypt deploys to Somalia amid Somaliland rift
Trump backs Gaza governance Phase II
US weighs limited action to deter Iran
The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is your hourly update on developments shaping the Middle East, Africa’s Horn of Africa, and Washington’s approach to the region as of nine o’clock tonight.
A new chapter in the Horn of Africa is unfolding as Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has provoked a sharp reaction from Somalia, which denounces the move as a violation of Mogadishu’s sovereignty. Somalia’s leadership says the recognition embeds a parallel authority in a region that has functioned independently of Mogadishu since 1991, raising concerns about stability and sovereignty in a critical corridor for regional security and Red Sea access. The international reverberations come as Egypt has moved to reinforce its security posture nearby. Cairo is reported to have redeployed a substantial force to Somalia—an estimated ten thousand troops and advisors—part of a broader effort to counter what it perceives as the growing strategic threat posed by new alignments around Somaliland and the possibility of broader Israeli influence in the Horn of Africa.
Egypt views the Horn of Africa as essential to its security calculations, particularly given the Red Sea’s significance to regional commerce and to Egypt’s own Nile water interests with Ethiopia. Egyptian observers warn that a foothold for Israel in Somaliland could, over time, affect how nearby states share access to the Red Sea and could complicate border and river-water diplomacy that has long been a flashpoint between Cairo and Addis Ababa. In pursuit of a broader security architecture, Egypt has been expanding its regional partnerships, strengthening ties with Somalia and Djibouti, as well as Eritrea and Kenya. Strategic port upgrades—Doraleh in Djibouti and Assab in Eritrea—are being pursued to increase capacity and accommodate Egyptian warships, signaling a longer-term aim to safeguard maritime routes and deter rivals in a busy and contested sea corridor.
Somalia has pressed its case at the international level, emphasizing respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mogadishu’s stance comes against the backdrop of a 2024 Somaliland-Ethiopia deal that gave Addis Ababa Red Sea access, a development Somalia has characterized as undermining its own sovereignty and stability. The current tension underscores how quickly alliances and claims of jurisdiction in the region can shift the security calculus for neighbors who depend on a stable Red Sea and a functioning regional order.
In Washington, the unfolding situation is attracting attention from lawmakers and officials weighing how US policy should respond to rapidly shifting regional dynamics. Senator Lindsey Graham announced a forthcoming visit to Israel to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu at what he called a pivotal moment for regional security. Graham framed the trip as a way to reinforce the enduring US-Israel partnership at a time of significant regional change, while signaling to allies and adversaries alike that Washington remains engaged and ready to respond to security challenges.
In the Gaza arena, President Donald Trump has said he supports the creation of a Palestinian technocratic government to oversee Gaza during the transition to Phase II of his peace plan. He described this as the “Board of Peace,” with leadership terms to be announced soon, and noted that the effort would be pursued with the backing of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. Trump called on Hamas to fulfill its commitments immediately and to move toward full demilitarization, arguing that a peaceful future is within reach. The specifics of governance and security arrangements remain to be clarified by US and allied officials, but the announcement sign
Egypt deploys to Somalia amid Somaliland rift
Trump backs Gaza governance Phase II
US weighs limited action to deter Iran
The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. Here is your hourly update on developments shaping the Middle East, Africa’s Horn of Africa, and Washington’s approach to the region as of nine o’clock tonight.
A new chapter in the Horn of Africa is unfolding as Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has provoked a sharp reaction from Somalia, which denounces the move as a violation of Mogadishu’s sovereignty. Somalia’s leadership says the recognition embeds a parallel authority in a region that has functioned independently of Mogadishu since 1991, raising concerns about stability and sovereignty in a critical corridor for regional security and Red Sea access. The international reverberations come as Egypt has moved to reinforce its security posture nearby. Cairo is reported to have redeployed a substantial force to Somalia—an estimated ten thousand troops and advisors—part of a broader effort to counter what it perceives as the growing strategic threat posed by new alignments around Somaliland and the possibility of broader Israeli influence in the Horn of Africa.
Egypt views the Horn of Africa as essential to its security calculations, particularly given the Red Sea’s significance to regional commerce and to Egypt’s own Nile water interests with Ethiopia. Egyptian observers warn that a foothold for Israel in Somaliland could, over time, affect how nearby states share access to the Red Sea and could complicate border and river-water diplomacy that has long been a flashpoint between Cairo and Addis Ababa. In pursuit of a broader security architecture, Egypt has been expanding its regional partnerships, strengthening ties with Somalia and Djibouti, as well as Eritrea and Kenya. Strategic port upgrades—Doraleh in Djibouti and Assab in Eritrea—are being pursued to increase capacity and accommodate Egyptian warships, signaling a longer-term aim to safeguard maritime routes and deter rivals in a busy and contested sea corridor.
Somalia has pressed its case at the international level, emphasizing respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mogadishu’s stance comes against the backdrop of a 2024 Somaliland-Ethiopia deal that gave Addis Ababa Red Sea access, a development Somalia has characterized as undermining its own sovereignty and stability. The current tension underscores how quickly alliances and claims of jurisdiction in the region can shift the security calculus for neighbors who depend on a stable Red Sea and a functioning regional order.
In Washington, the unfolding situation is attracting attention from lawmakers and officials weighing how US policy should respond to rapidly shifting regional dynamics. Senator Lindsey Graham announced a forthcoming visit to Israel to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu at what he called a pivotal moment for regional security. Graham framed the trip as a way to reinforce the enduring US-Israel partnership at a time of significant regional change, while signaling to allies and adversaries alike that Washington remains engaged and ready to respond to security challenges.
In the Gaza arena, President Donald Trump has said he supports the creation of a Palestinian technocratic government to oversee Gaza during the transition to Phase II of his peace plan. He described this as the “Board of Peace,” with leadership terms to be announced soon, and noted that the effort would be pursued with the backing of Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. Trump called on Hamas to fulfill its commitments immediately and to move toward full demilitarization, arguing that a peaceful future is within reach. The specifics of governance and security arrangements remain to be clarified by US and allied officials, but the announcement sign