German condemnation and US threat following Houthi targeting of two Saudi ships - Sarmad

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi ships in the Red Sea.

In a statement on Thursday, Merz called for an immediate end to the attacks, describing any form of maritime blockade as “unacceptable.”

Merz said, “These random attacks endanger freedom of navigation and threaten to further undermine regional stability.”

The Chancellor affirmed that the German government stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its partners in the region.

On Wednesday evening, the Houthi group announced that it had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea using ballistic missiles and drones.

On Thursday morning, Saudi Arabia confirmed that one of its vessels in the Red Sea had been targeted, resulting in a fire but no casualties.

In this context, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a “major military punishment” on Iran and the Houthis if they continued targeting ships while attempting to cross the Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital southern gateway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Trump stated on his Truth Social platform: “A year ago, the United States launched a strong attack against the Houthis for their interference in Red Sea navigation by firing on ships. Now they have returned to their actions, firing on two Saudi ships last night.”

He added, “If they repeat this act, the United States will hold Iran responsible, considering the Houthis as an agent or representative of Iran, and a major military punishment will be inflicted on Iran, and of course on the Houthis themselves.”