German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has strongly condemned attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi ships in the Red Sea, calling for an immediate end to the attacks and describing any form of naval blockade as “unacceptable.”
“These reckless attacks endanger freedom of navigation and threaten to further undermine regional stability,” Merz said in a statement on Thursday. He said the German government stood in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its partners in the region.
The Iranian-backed Houthi militia has claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers, saying the vessels had violated a “blockade” it had declared in the Red Sea.
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with retaliation in the event of further Houthi attacks, describing the group as acting as a proxy for Iran.