Macron's office says France ready to defend Gulf states

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has said at a press conference in Paris that France is ready to contribute to the defence of its partners in the Middle East amid the escalating situation in the region. However, he did not specify how Paris would take part in protecting these countries.

As reported by BFMTV, a French news broadcast television and radio network, Barrot expressed support and solidarity with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Jordan.

Meanwhile, he expressed regret that the situation with Iran had not been resolved through diplomatic means.

Barrot also said that the unilateral attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran should have been discussed within collective bodies established for that purpose, such as the United Nations.

He said that everyone could have assumed responsibility and that only by turning to the United Nations Security Council for authorisation to use force could the necessary legitimacy be obtained.

On the morning of 28 February, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched a large-scale operation against Iran. Israel also carried out strikes.

Iran responded by launching attacks against several Persian Gulf countries hosting US facilities.

Several European airlines cancelled flights on Saturday 28 February to airports in the Middle East for the coming days due to the fighting in the region.