German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a “convincing plan” to end the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
Speaking alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at military exercises in Norway Friday, Merz said the world is witnessing “a dangerous escalation.”
He raised concerns about Iran “indiscriminately” attacking countries across the Gulf region, adding, “With every day this war lasts, more questions are coming up, more than can be answered yet. And one thing becomes increasingly clear, we need a convincing plan on how this war can come to an end.”
His remarks come hours after six U.S. service members were killed in a plane crash in Iraq in a non-combat related crash, bringing the total U.S. troop fatalities to 13. A French soldier has also been killed in what is believed to be the first European death since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began two weeks ago.
“This attack against our forces engaged in the fight against Daesh (ISIS) since 2015 is unacceptable,” France’s president Emmanuel Macron said. “Their presence in Iraq is part of the strict framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks.”
