Berbera Airport Undergoes Major Expansion Amid Reports of Planned Joint Military Base

Away from public attention, a large-scale construction project is underway on the outskirts of Berbera, the coastal city in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland. While the city is widely known for its new port terminal—an economic lifeline for the region—another strategic asset located about seven kilometers west of the city center is drawing increasing attention: Berbera Airport.

According to a report by French newspaper Le Monde, the airport is being extensively upgraded amid plans to establish a joint military facility involving the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and Israel.

The report says the project gained momentum after Israel formally recognized Somaliland's independence on December 26, 2025. It claims the move was aimed at establishing an Israeli strategic outpost overlooking the Gulf of Aden, close to Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthi movement remains active.

Satellite imagery obtained by Le Monde reportedly shows extensive excavation work south of the airport's runway. Between October 2025 and March 2026, at least 18 large trenches were dug into the sandy terrain.

European security sources cited by the newspaper said the underground structures are believed to be hardened storage facilities for ammunition or fuel. According to the report, the trenches were first filled with shipping containers before being covered with earth.

An unnamed military expert quoted by Le Monde said the construction of the underground facilities is being carried out by the UAE. Abu Dhabi signed a defense agreement with Somaliland in 2017 that included permission to use Berbera Airport for military purposes.

The report also cited an airport employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, as saying the UAE is overseeing the construction on behalf of Israel and the United States.

An analysis published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on January 27 reportedly suggested that raised earth platforms visible in satellite images from October 2025 indicate preparations for deploying air defense systems.

The reported developments mirror similar military infrastructure at Bosaso Airport in Somalia's Puntland region, where the UAE maintains a military presence. According to the report, an Israeli-made EL/M-2094 radar system was deployed there in March 2025.

Although both Israel and Somaliland have denied signing a formal defense agreement, Le Monde reported that security cooperation has already begun. It said Somaliland intelligence officials have traveled discreetly to Tel Aviv for training, while Israeli military delegations have visited both Hargeisa and Berbera.

Berbera's strategic importance stems largely from its location at the southern entrance to the Red Sea near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints. The airport's runway, measuring more than four kilometers, is among the longest in Africa. It was originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1970s.

Since the UAE assumed control of the facility in 2017, the airport has undergone significant military upgrades, including runway rehabilitation, construction of large aircraft hangars and development of a naval jetty capable of accommodating warships and aircraft carriers. The latest expansion comes as the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has intensified amid regional security tensions.

The report says it remains unclear which countries' armed forces will ultimately use the expanded facilities. Although the airport is jointly managed by Somaliland and the UAE, Israeli military officials have reportedly visited the site and held meetings with Somaliland's military leadership.

Berbera Airport, once considered a civilian facility, has now been closed to public access, with surrounding roads reportedly blocked.

An East Africa-based security source told Le Monde that Israeli military teams have already inspected the base and could potentially use it as a launch point for operations in Yemen.

The newspaper also reported frequent visits by officials from the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). According to the report, AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson was seen at Berbera Airport on December 1, 2025.

The United States has long expressed interest in reducing its dependence on neighboring Djibouti, where its largest military base in Africa sits close to China's first overseas military installation, established in 2017.

Unlike Djibouti, which has reportedly refused to allow its territory to be used for U.S. strikes in Yemen over concerns of Houthi retaliation, Somaliland is said to be willing to provide such access in the hope of securing formal diplomatic recognition from Washington.