Ankara deploys M48 and M60 tanks to Somalia video

Turkish M48 and M60 tanks have arrived in Somalia, marking a significant military deployment in the region.

According to Yeni Şafak, the tanks were transported aboard the Turkish Navy landing ship TCG Sancaktar, a vessel specifically designed for tank landings. Earlier reports also noted the presence of Turkish F-16 fighter jets in Mogadishu.

The deployment comes amid rising regional tensions, following Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland’s independence. Israel has increased its military engagement in the breakaway region, becoming the first country to formally acknowledge the autonomous territory that separated from Somalia decades ago — a move Ankara has strongly condemned.

Türkiye described Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an “illegal and destabilising act,” warning that it constitutes direct interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and poses a threat to stability in the Horn of Africa. The Turkish government framed the situation as part of an escalating contest for influence in the region.

By Tamilla Hasanova