Macron Jumps Into Middle East Conflict, Sends French Troops to Saudi Arabia as Houthis Threaten Yanbu Oil Hub
France is preparing to deploy troops, radar systems and air-defence equipment to Saudi Arabia to protect the strategically important Yanbu oil hub as Riyadh faces an intensifying campaign of missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment on Thursday, saying French forces would be tasked with protecting the energy facility and would not participate directly in combat operations.
“We are going to send military resources, that is to say, soldiers, radar systems, and defence systems, to protect the site of Yanbu,” Macron told French television channels TF1 and France 2.
The announcement came hours after Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles targeting areas including Taif, which hosts a major Saudi air base, and Yanbu, a key Red Sea port.
Yanbu has become increasingly important to Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure as the war between the United States and Iran has severely disrupted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The Red Sea facility handles several million barrels of oil and has previously come under attack.
Macron said the Yanbu hub had been “very badly damaged” in earlier attacks, underscoring the importance of additional air-defence capabilities as the threat from the Houthis grows.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Thursday, saying they had targeted several “sensitive sites” inside Saudi Arabia. The group specifically identified Saudi Aramco infrastructure in Yanbu as one of its targets.
A Greek-operated Patriot air-defence battery already deployed in Saudi Arabia also intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the wider Yanbu area on Thursday, according to Reuters.
The Houthis have described their military campaign as an effort to force Saudi-backed forces out of Yemen, end Riyadh’s blockade and restore what they describe as Yemen’s sovereignty. The group has also warned foreign powers against becoming directly involved in Saudi Arabia’s military campaign.
Saudi Arabia Seeks Additional Foreign Military Support
France’s decision comes as Saudi Arabia seeks military assistance from several international partners amid mounting pressure on its air-defence resources.
Riyadh has reportedly sought additional support from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt as its stocks of missile interceptors come under increasing strain.
The French deployment follows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reported request for direct US military action against the Houthis. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump reportedly declined to launch strikes against the group.
Washington has instead offered intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance, while US military resources remain heavily focused on the conflict with Iran.
Trump has also said that the Houthis are allowing most ships to pass through the Red Sea and are primarily focused on one country, suggesting that Washington does not currently view direct US intervention against the group as necessary.
Britain has also expanded its support for Saudi Arabia. London has agreed to deploy an RAF Voyager tanker to provide air-to-air refuelling for Saudi operations, in addition to British air-defence equipment and personnel already stationed in the kingdom.
Pakistan, which has a mutual-defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, has also pledged to defend the kingdom “to any extent”. Islamabad, however, has not announced a new combat deployment.
Egypt has offered Riyadh what it described as “unwavering” political support, although it has not announced any military deployment.
Italy, meanwhile, maintains an air-defence mission in Saudi Arabia. An Italian Eurofighter stationed at King Fahd Air Base was reportedly damaged in a Houthi attack last week.
Red Sea Corridor Comes Under Pressure
The latest escalation comes as the Houthis expand their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The group has reportedly seized Mokha and strategic islands near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.
Houthi forces have also continued targeting Saudi oil infrastructure and shipping while demanding an end to the Saudi blockade of Yemen.
The developments are creating a difficult strategic situation for Saudi Arabia, with pressure emerging from both sides of the Arabian Peninsula.
The conflict with Iran has severely disrupted Saudi Arabia’s traditional export route through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Houthi missile and drone attacks are threatening the kingdom’s alternative route through the Red Sea, particularly the Yanbu oil hub and the Bab al-Mandeb corridor.
France’s decision to deploy military personnel and air-defence capabilities therefore represents a significant step in Riyadh’s efforts to reinforce the protection of its critical energy infrastructure as instability spreads across the region.
