PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - France is ready to defend its partners if they request help after Iranian retaliatory strikes and ireserves its right to intervene, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on
France Prepared to Defend Partners and Nationals After Iranian Strikes
France's Response to Iranian Retaliatory Strikes
Official Statement from the French Government
PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - France is ready to defend its partners if they request help after Iranian retaliatory strikes and ireserves its right to intervene, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.
Regional Impact and Defense Agreements
"This war... is dragging a number of countries in the region into the conflict with which we have relations, defence agreements, and interests, including military bases," Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV.
Military Operations and Protection of Nationals
He added that French Rafale fighter jets carried out air operations to secure the skies above France's bases in the region. Around 400,000 French nationals are currently in the countries affected by the crisis in the Middle East and the French government is ready to fly back those most at risk using both commercial and military flights, Barrot said.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Dominique Vidalon)
