Very present in the region through bases and its participation in various international operations, France stopped drones during the Iranian attack against Israel revealed the Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.
France intercepted less than a dozen drones drawn by Iran on Israel during the conflict between the two countries, said Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.
“Our armies did not participate in the strikes on Iran. But we protect our bases in the region, in self-defense. Our soil-to-air and Rafale defense systems deployed have intercepted several Iranian drones whose trajectory towards Israel was flying over our rights-of-way,” he wrote in a message published Thursday on X, referring to his declarations the day before the National Assembly during the situation in a debate on the situation Middle East.
Sébastien Lecornu said that around 400 ballistic missiles and a thousand drones had been drawn by Iran against Israel during the twelve -day war between the two
country, which ended Tuesday with a ceasefire.
In April 2024, during a previous attack by Iranian drones towards Israel, the French army had already “participated in interception actions”, revealed the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time Stéphane Séjénéné.
A vast French presence
France is present in this vast region of the Near East as part of Operation Chammal, launched in 2014 within a large coalition against the Islamic State.
The French army has led several missions to the nearby and Middle East area based on its presence forces, indicates the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
French forces are stationed in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU), in order to support the French military means deployed in the Arab-Persian Gulf and the north of the Indian Ocean. This quota consists of a naval base, burst parked on the Emirian base of Al Dhafra (near Abu Dhabi) as well as terrestrial means (Leclerc, VBCI, Caesar cannons).
The armies are also present in East Africa, through the French presence force stationed in Djibouti (FFDJ). The FFDJs are made up of an air base (notably Mirage 2000-5), a naval component and land and aeroterrestres (Caesar, armored vehicles).
France is also present in Lebanon as part of Operation Daman, with 700 soldiers.
