PARIS - The French army intercepted several drones launched by Iran towards Israel in the days leading up to the ceasefire that came into effect on Tuesday, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Wednesday evening.
During a parliamentary debate on the crisis in the Middle East, Mr. Lecornu clarified that less than ten drones had been neutralized by French forces with the help of ground-to-air systems orRafale fighter jetsThis is the first official confirmation of France's direct involvement in the defense of Israel during this twelve-day conflict against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"The French army acted in a targeted and proportionate manner to prevent escalation, in coordination with our allies," the minister said, emphasizing the importance of France's role in regional stabilization.
According to Lecornu, Iran reportedly launched about 400 ballistic missiles and 1 drones into Israeli territory during the conflict. These attacks were launched in response to Israeli strikes on June 13, which targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, killing a senior military officer and several scientists.
The death toll from Iranian retaliation stands at at least 28 dead in Israel, according to local authorities, as well as to hundreds of buildings damaged. In Iran, 610 people were reportedly killed et nearly 5 injured, according to figures provided by Iranian authorities.
This latest episode confirms the expansion of France's operational role in regional crises. While Paris has not officially participated in the diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, its indirect military participation is a clear signal of solidarity with its allies and commitment to combating the proliferation of ballistic missile threats in the Middle East.
The ceasefire, supported by the United States, appears to be holding for now, despite the situation in the region remaining extremely volatile.
