PARIS – France’s top diplomat declared Tuesday that the nation is prepared to provide military assistance to allied countries requesting support in the wake of Iranian counterattacks across the region.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced during a television interview that France maintains the authority to take military action when needed. Speaking to BFM TV, Barrot explained the expanding nature of the regional conflict.
“This war… is dragging a number of countries in the region into the conflict with which we have relations, defence agreements, and interests, including military bases,” Barrot stated during the broadcast.
The Foreign Minister revealed that French Rafale fighter aircraft have already conducted aerial missions to protect airspace around French military installations throughout the region. French officials are also developing contingency plans to evacuate approximately 400,000 French citizens currently living in Middle Eastern nations impacted by the escalating crisis, according to Barrot’s announcement.
The evacuation strategy would utilize both civilian airline services and military transport aircraft to remove French nationals facing the highest risk levels, the Foreign Minister indicated.
