The French Air and Space Force releases images of drones being intercepted by French Rafales in the Middle East. Several drones have been intercepted by French Rafales operating in the Middle East as part of the ongoing conflict for the past two months, images provided by the French Air and Space Force and revealed by BFMTV on April 28. In the Gulf region, the French Air Force has increased missile strikes in defense of “partner countries” attacked by Iran. France, bound by defense agreements with Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, has deployed its combat aircraft to the Emirates and Jordan, quickly reinforced by at least six additional aircraft. The French Air and Space Force urgently adapted the Rafale’s cannon targeting to be able to shoot at slow targets and is preparing to equip the aircraft with rocket pods, which are much cheaper than a missile.
A return to stability “as soon as possible”
French forces have also deployed ground-to-air defense systems in the region, including an SAMP/T missile system, as well as two Fennec helicopters armed with a 20mm cannon or a onboard shooter. On Friday, on the sidelines of a meeting of European leaders in Cyprus, Emmanuel Macron called, “for the good of all,” for a return to stability in the Middle East “as soon as possible.”
However, Donald Trump canceled on Saturday the planned trip to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks with Iran, undermining the prospect of reconciliation, while Israel ordered new strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
