COPENHAGEN: Denmark said Thursday that it would join a Britain-US coalition that has carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen who are behind a recent spate of attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis say their attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Washington and London have launched a series of strikes against Houthi positions to bring an end to the attacks that have caused shipping companies to bypass the Red Sea, significantly adding to journey times and cost.
“We have responded to the request for Denmark to take part in the coalition,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters.
He said Denmark would contribute an officer from its general staff who would take part in planning operations.
“This is a serious situation, one in which Denmark says it will also take political responsibility to bring an end to what is going on,” Poulsen said.
The Scandinavian country, which has previously said it would send a frigate to the region, is home to shipping giant Maersk, which has rerouted its ships away from the Red Sea.
In December, the Pentagon said 20 countries had joined the Washington-led coalition to protect the key shipping lane.
![]()
Denmark to join Britain-US coalition against Houthis: govt
Short Url
https://arab.news/9xsrf
Denmark to join Britain-US coalition against Houthis: govt
- “We have responded to the request for Denmark to take part in the coalition,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said
- The Scandinavian country is home to shipping giant Maersk
Germany to take in more than 500 stranded Afghans from Pakistan
BERLIN: The German government said Thursday it would take in 535 Afghans who had been promised refuge in Germany but have been stuck in limbo in Pakistan.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the RND media network Berlin wanted to complete the processing of the cases “in December, as far as possible” to allow them to enter Germany.
The Afghans were accepted under a refugee scheme set up by the previous German government, but have been stuck in Pakistan since conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May and froze the program.
Those on the scheme either worked with German armed forces in Afghanistan during the war against the Taliban, or were judged to be at particular risk from the Taliban after its return to power in 2021 — for example, rights activists and journalists, as well as their families.
Pakistan had set a deadline for the end of the year for the Afghans’ cases to be settled, after which they would be deported back to their homeland.
Dobrindt said that “we are in touch with the Pakistani authorities about this,” adding: “It could be that there are a few cases which we will have to work on in the new year.”
Last week, the interior ministry said it had informed 650 people on the program they would not be admitted, as the new government deemed it was no longer in Germany’s “interest.”
The government has offered those still in Pakistan money to give up their claim of settling in Germany, but as of mid-November, only 62 people had taken up the offer.
Earlier this month, more than 250 organizations in Germany, including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Human Rights Watch, said there were around 1,800 Afghans from the program in limbo in Pakistan, and urged the government to let them in.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the RND media network Berlin wanted to complete the processing of the cases “in December, as far as possible” to allow them to enter Germany.
The Afghans were accepted under a refugee scheme set up by the previous German government, but have been stuck in Pakistan since conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May and froze the program.
Those on the scheme either worked with German armed forces in Afghanistan during the war against the Taliban, or were judged to be at particular risk from the Taliban after its return to power in 2021 — for example, rights activists and journalists, as well as their families.
Pakistan had set a deadline for the end of the year for the Afghans’ cases to be settled, after which they would be deported back to their homeland.
Dobrindt said that “we are in touch with the Pakistani authorities about this,” adding: “It could be that there are a few cases which we will have to work on in the new year.”
Last week, the interior ministry said it had informed 650 people on the program they would not be admitted, as the new government deemed it was no longer in Germany’s “interest.”
The government has offered those still in Pakistan money to give up their claim of settling in Germany, but as of mid-November, only 62 people had taken up the offer.
Earlier this month, more than 250 organizations in Germany, including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Human Rights Watch, said there were around 1,800 Afghans from the program in limbo in Pakistan, and urged the government to let them in.
Latest updates
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.