France to Send Troops and Defences to Protect Saudi Oil Hub at Yanbu
publishers 11articles 12first reported 24 Sep, 11:19 UTCdeveloping since 24 Sep · 4 editions
France will deploy troops, radar equipment and defensive systems to protect Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea oil hub at Yanbu, President Emmanuel Macron said in a joint interview with broadcasters France 2 and TF1.
Macron said the deployment was intended to secure the site rather than draw France into combat. “Our aim is to help stabilise the oil market,” he said. Yanbu contains major oil storage and refining facilities and connects to Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, an alternative export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. The pipeline can carry about 5 million barrels of crude a day and temporarily increase capacity to 7 million.
The announcement followed increased attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Al Jazeera reported that the group claimed to have struck Aramco facilities in Yanbu and a target in Riyadh on Thursday. Saudi forces said they intercepted six ballistic missiles, while authorities did not confirm damage.
France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for a parliamentary vote, arguing that sending troops could make France a party to the conflict if the protected site were attacked.
In the same interview, Macron denied a report by Spanish newspaper El Mundo that the CIA had warned France, Spain and Italy of a possible Russian drone operation targeting southern Europe. He said French services had received no such warning. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also said the claim was unconfirmed.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 11
- Source articles
- 12
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
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