Ex-German soldiers allegedly try to start mercenary force in Yemen
The masterminds behind the operation are accused of seeking funding from Saudi Arabia, according to German media.
Two former German soldiers have been charged with terrorism for allegedly seeking to start a mercenary force to fight in the Yemeni civil war.
The two men, identified as Arend-Adolf G. and Achim A., were arrested on “suspicion” of attempting to establish a terrorist organization, federal German prosecutors said in a press release Wednesday.
The accused both previously served in the German army and planned to create a fighting force of other former soldiers and police officers. Their goal was to deploy to Yemen to “pacify” the war-torn country and force negotiations between the Houthi rebels and the government. The pair sought donors from Saudi Arabia, including from the Saudi government, but they did not receive a response, Germany’s state-owned news outlet Deutsche Welle reported.
Yemen has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since 2014 between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed government. Both sides have been accused of war crimes. The violence has also spilled over into neighboring Saudi Arabia.
