Germany has aligned with the United States and the United Kingdom in backing military actions against the Houthis in Yemen, a stance confirmed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, according to reports from a German newspaper. The statement highlights Berlin’s political support for the strikes, framing them as part of a broader effort to address threats to regional security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The reporting underscores Berlin’s position within allied efforts and its commitment to international law as interpreted by the German government.
Baerbock asserted that the strikes were undertaken in line with the right to individual and collective self-defense as laid out in the United Nations Charter. The German perspective emphasizes that the action conforms to existing international norms and is undertaken with the goal of mitigating imminent threats posed by the Houthis. The foreign minister’s remarks, relayed by the press, stress a unified stance among Western partners and a belief that the measures contribute to maintaining regional balance while protecting civilians from escalating conflict.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with journalists and criticized the United States and the United Kingdom for deploying what he called disproportionate force against the Yemeni Ansarullah movement, often referred to as the Houthis. Erdoğan argued that the operations risk turning the Red Sea into a battleground and warned of potential wider consequences for regional security. His comments reflect a recurring theme in regional discourse: that external military interventions carry risks of escalation and civilian impact, prompting calls for restraint and diplomatic avenues to de-escalate tensions.
On the night of January 12, the United States and the United Kingdom conducted strikes targeting more than 60 sites associated with the Houthi movement in Yemen. The reported air campaign involved a broad array of assets and demonstrated a synchronized approach among coalition partners. Explosions were reported across several major Yemeni cities, and the Sanaa International Airport sustained heavy bombardment according to witnesses and official briefings. U.S. forces described the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles, while allied forces indicated that Paveway IV guided bombs played a role in the operation, illustrating the scale and technical diversity of the actions undertaken that night.
Commentators and regional analysts have discussed the potential for Iran to become involved in the broader military dynamics in Yemen. Some experts suggested that Tehran could consider aligning with or supporting similar actions as part of a wider strategy in the region, a development that would complicate efforts to stabilize the conflict. The possibility of expanded participation underscores the complexity of external power influence in Yemen, where various state and non-state actors pursue strategic objectives amid a fragile humanitarian situation.