Mar 4, 2:26 PM
Macron orders first evacuations as France boosts military presence in Middle East
French president says drones were shot down “in legitimate defence” while warship and air-defence systems are deployed to allies
Emmanuel Macron has ordered the first evacuations of French citizens from the Middle East and announced new military deployments as tensions escalate following the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Macron said Tehran bears “primary responsibility” for the crisis, while also criticising the US–Israeli strikes that triggered the latest escalation.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran bears primary responsibility for this situation,” Macron said, adding that the initial operations by United States and Israel were carried out “outside international law.”
The speech came four days after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered retaliatory attacks across the region and heightened fears that the conflict could spread beyond the Middle East. Macron confirmed that two French military installations in the region had been targeted by drones, causing limited material damage. He said French forces had intercepted several drones during the first hours of the conflict.
“We shot down drones in legitimate defence from the very first hours,” he said.
France maintains defence partnerships with several countries in the region, including Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Macron said Paris would deploy additional air-defence systems to help protect those allies as part of what he described as a defensive mission.
Earlier on Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said French Dassault Rafale jets had already conducted air-security operations above French facilities in the UAE to guard against further drone attacks. Macron also warned that global trade routes were increasingly at risk, pointing specifically to the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal.
“We are leading efforts to build a coalition to secure traffic in these corridors,” he said.
France is also reinforcing its presence around Cyprus following drone incidents targeting the British military base at RAF Akrotiri. Macron said a French frigate was being deployed to waters near the island.
In addition, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is heading towards the Mediterranean as part of what the president described as a broader deterrence posture. Macron said around 400,000 French nationals are currently in the wider Middle East region. Authorities have begun organising voluntary evacuations for those wishing to leave.
“We are organising, in an orderly manner, the repatriation of our citizens who wish to leave, starting with the most vulnerable,” Macron said.
He confirmed that the first two evacuation flights were scheduled to land in Paris on Tuesday night.
