Germany’s Merz sparks criticism for respecting Israel’s courage for ‘doing dirty work for us’ in Iran

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing growing criticism at home after saying on Tuesday that Israel is doing the West's "dirty work" by striking Iran's nuclear facilities.

Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Merz praised Israel's actions as "courageous," saying he has the "greatest respect" for its military campaign against Iran.

The comments have stirred backlash among German lawmakers and human-rights advocates.

Critics argue Merz is normalizing targeted strikes that bypass international diplomacy and risk violating international law.

However, Merz defended his stance, saying he stands by his remarks, though he declined to address criticisms directly.