France ready to defend partners after Iranian strikes, minister says
France is ready to defend its partners if they request assistance following Iranian retaliatory strikes and reserves the right to intervene, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.
Barrot told BFM TV that the conflict was drawing in countries where France has defense agreements and military bases. He said French Rafale fighter jets have carried out air operations to secure the skies above French bases in the region.
He added that about 400,000 French nationals are in countries affected by the crisis and that France is prepared to evacuate those most at risk using commercial and military flights.
