No request for military aid from Israel to Germany

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, in an interview with ARD television, responded to a question regarding whether Israel had made any requests to Germany in the context of its conflict with Iran.

Pistorius stated, "No. There is no request, we are not preparing anything, and therefore there is nothing to comment on at the moment."

Pistorius also noted that he has not held any discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz regarding what his country could provide to Israel.

Addressing Prime Minister Friedrich Merz's announcement that they would send firefighting equipment to Israel, Pistorius said, "Non-lethal, meaning protective halon gas, is something else. This is about extinguishing fires in aircraft, for example. It cannot be used for anything else."

Emphasizing that Iran's nuclear program is a serious source of concern for the international community, Pistorius said, "They have uranium enriched to 60 percent. Therefore, I think it should be stated very clearly that Israel has the right to defend itself here, even preventively. I believe this is indisputable, but it is not so easy to evaluate under international law."