France deploys Rafale jets over UAE after Iranian drone targets French facility

In a significant move, France has deployed Rafale hets over the UAE to protect its bases after an Iranian drone hit a French facility, the country’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which was triggered by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday.

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Hundreds of French Navy, Air Force and Army personnel are based in the United Arab Emirates at the Dhafra base near Abu Dhabi.

“These Rafales and their pilots are mobilised to ensure the security of our facilities,” Barrot was quoted as saying by the BFMTV broadcaster. “They have carried out operations to secure the airspace above our bases.”

The French Minister further stated that “exchanges are multiplying to determine both how the country can defend itself against future attacks and how France can protect its interests there.”

Iran has launched missile and drone attacks on several Gulf countries in response to the US and Israeli attacks, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei’s wife, a daughter, a grand child and a son-in-law were also killed in the US-Israeli strikes, triggering a wider Middle East conflict as Iran launched attacks on US military bases in several Guld countries.