France has deployed its Rafale fighter jets to the skies over the United Arab Emirates to protect its military bases from possible Iranian attacks.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the move on Tuesday. He said the jets were positioned to defend French facilities in the Gulf state.
“These Rafales and their pilots are mobilised to ensure the security of our facilities,” Barrot said during an interview with BFMTV.
He added that the aircraft had already carried out missions to safeguard the airspace around French bases.
France has hundreds of military personnel stationed in the UAE, including naval, air force and army officers. The Rafale jets are based at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi.
According to Barrot, a drone struck a hangar at one of France’s bases in the UAE on Sunday.
He said discussions are ongoing on how the UAE can prevent further attacks and how France can better protect its interests in the region.
The tension follows recent military action in the Middle East. Over the weekend, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, during which Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed.
Since then, Iran has reportedly targeted some US allies in the Gulf.
Iranian officials have also warned that energy supplies could be affected, raising concerns about the global economy.
