On Friday morning, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took decisive action to bolster security at all Jewish and Israeli-linked institutions across Germany, in response to what Berlin now fears could be a wave of global blowback from Tehran and its proxies.
As the Middle East trembles from the shockwaves of Israelās largest-ever airstrike campaign against Iran, the fallout is being felt thousands of miles awayāin the heart of Europe.
š”ļø Jewish Sites Now Under Guard: A Homeland Response to a Foreign War
The German Federal Chancellery announced an immediate expansion of police protection at synagogues, Israeli embassies, Jewish schools, and cultural centers nationwide. Counterterrorism units were reportedly placed on alert, and intelligence agencies were instructed to monitor Iran-linked threats, including potential cyber or lone-wolf retaliatory acts.
āThe protection of Jewish life in Germany is non-negotiable,ā Merz declared during a briefing in Berlin.
āIsrael has the right to defend its existenceāand we will defend those who stand for freedom here at home.ā
The move comes amid heightened tensions following Israelās Operation Rising Lion, which involved 200 Israeli fighter jets dropping over 330 bombs on Iranian nuclear and military targets in a stunning show of force.
š MerzāNetanyahu Call Signals Ironclad Support
Chancellor Merz spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Friday morning, shortly after the operation was confirmed by the Israeli Defense Forces.
According to sources familiar with the call, Merz reaffirmed Germanyās āunshakable commitmentā to Israelās security and voiced Berlinās concern over Iranās ongoing violations of international nuclear agreements.
āThe goal must remain that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons,ā Merz told reporters after the call.
āIts nuclear ambitionsāpaired with its refusal to cooperate with global monitorsārepresent a threat not just to Israel, but to regional and international peace.ā
š®š± Operation Rising Lion: Israelās Direct Hit on Natanz Cripples Iranās Nuclear Core
ā¢ļø Germany Condemns Iranās Nuclear Activity
Chancellor Merz delivered a strong rebuke of Iranās nuclear trajectory, aligning with recent findings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He accused Iran of:
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Failing to disclose uranium enrichment activities at multiple secret sites
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Threatening to accelerate enrichment levels beyond even 60%, a technical step from weapons-grade
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Violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), undermining global security mechanisms
āIranās nuclear program is not peaceful,ā Merz said. āIt is a calculated provocation wrapped in denial.ā
š§ Germanyās Dual Warning: Support Israel, Avoid Escalation
While standing firmly with Israel, Merz also issued a measured call for de-escalation, urging both sides to avoid a broader spiral into regional war.
āThe entire region stands on the edge of a knife,ā he said.
āAll sides must refrain from actions that could trigger uncontrolled escalation or destabilize neighboring countries.ā
Analysts view this as a signal to Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iranās other proxies, who may see Israelās strike as justification for opening new fronts.
š A European Shield in a Global Conflict
Germanyās swift internal security response is being praised by Jewish leaders and international observers alike. The move reflects Europeās growing recognition that wars in the Middle East no longer stay in the Middle East.
With Iranian cyber forces active, Hezbollah operatives embedded in Europe, and far-right extremists still a concern, Germanyās move signals preemptive resilience against transnational threats.