French President Emmanuel Macron has denounced the war being conducted in Iran as “outside international law.” Since then, Paris has deployed 83% of its fleet, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in a “defensive posture.” Twenty-four Rafale combat aircraft have also been deployed for “airspace securing operations” at French bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, announced Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A few days after the start of Israeli-American military operations, the French General Staff announced that “support aircraft for operations” had been “accepted at the Istres airbase in France.” France demanded that the resources involved not participate in any way in the US operations in Iran, but strictly for supporting the defense of partners in the region. France reportedly received “complete assurance” on this.
On Monday, Spain closed its airspace to American aircraft involved in the operations. According to the Spanish newspaper El País, bombers had to “bypass the Iberian Peninsula to enter through the Strait of Gibraltar,” forcing them to “alter their routes” and logistics.
