Conflict & Security
Macron says France will send assets to Yanbu oil port
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that France would send soldiers, radars and defence systems to help protect Saudi Arabia's Yanbu oil terminal from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
"We are going to send military assets, meaning soldiers, radars, and defence systems to protect this site," Macron said in an interview with TF1 and France 2.
A diplomatic source had said Monday that France was ready to contribute to securing energy infrastructure in Yanbu and along the East-West Pipeline, while keeping its role defensive and not taking part in the conflict with the Houthis.
The Houthis have carried out attacks against facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco in Yanbu. Saudi Arabia has been relying on the Red Sea port to export oil after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the Middle East war.
Update
President Emmanuel Macron said France would send soldiers, radars and defence systems to protect the Yanbu oil terminal.
Macron made the statement in a Thursday evening interview with TF1 and France 2.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 September 2026 at 19:19:35 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The timing, size and duration of the French deployment were not specified.
The precise recent status of the East-West Pipeline was not updated in the new item.
Source
AFP news report published on .