Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation Wednesday of recent attacks carried out by Iran‑backed Houthi militias, which targeted civilians in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as well as commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Kitamura stressed that such actions are intolerable: “Attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure cannot be condoned. We call for an immediate halt to this escalation.” He emphasized that peace and stability in the Middle East including ensuring freedom and safety of navigation are of paramount importance to Japan and the international community. The ministry pledged that Japan will continue to exert all possible diplomatic efforts, in cooperation with global partners, to promote peace and stability in the region.