France will send military assets to protect the Red Sea port of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia's key oil terminal, as Houthi attacks escalate, French President Macron announced.
Macron confirmed France will deploy soldiers, radar systems, and defense equipment to the site, emphasizing the measures are for protection, not combat involvement. The Houthi group has launched multiple attacks on Saudi infrastructure since July, including ballistic missiles intercepted near Mecca and Yanbu.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted Saudi oil exports, with the group imposing a naval blockade and seizing Red Sea territory. France's military support comes as Saudi Arabia faces growing pressure from Houthi threats, which have intensified since renewed hostilities in Yemen.
Macron also warned of potential Russian attacks on French soil, citing increased hostile acts by Moscow, though France has faced criticism for exempting a Russian-Uzbek tycoon from sanctions, prompting diplomatic tensions.