France has agreed to allow US support aircraft to land at the Istres air base in the Bouches-du-Rhône department. According to the French General Staff, these aircraft are not participating in US military operations in Iran, and their presence is part of standard NATO procedures.
French authorities claim to have obtained formal guarantees from Washington: the aircraft in question are solely intended for logistical missions, including refueling, and are not involved in strikes carried out in the context of tensions with Tehran.
A military posture presented as defensive
The Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, clarified that these were primarily refueling aircraft, used to support defense operations in the region. According to her, these aircraft are not intended to participate in combat operations.
Since the outbreak of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, France has maintained that it is adopting a strictly defensive posture. Paris has notably reinforced its military presence in the Middle East to ensure the protection of its bases, its citizens, and its allies in the region.
