France is preparing to send military personnel and defensive equipment to Saudi Arabia to help protect the strategically important Yanbu oil terminal on the Red Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Macron said France would deploy soldiers, radar systems and air-defence equipment to protect the facility. He stressed that the deployment is intended to safeguard strategic infrastructure rather than involve France directly in the wider conflict.
The move comes amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities reported intercepting six ballistic missiles targeting the Yanbu and Taif areas on September 24. The Houthis have also claimed attacks against energy infrastructure in Yanbu, although Saudi authorities have not confirmed damage from those specific claims.
Yanbu is particularly important to Saudi Arabia’s energy exports because it provides a Red Sea route for oil shipments. It is connected to the country’s oil-producing regions in the east through the East-West Pipeline, allowing Saudi Arabia to move crude toward the Red Sea without relying entirely on routes through the Persian Gulf.
The United Kingdom has also provided defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye are holding discussions under their joint defence agreement.
The developments have raised concerns about the security of Red Sea shipping and global energy supplies, particularly as the region continues to experience wider military tensions.
News as Reported.
