French Rafale fighter jets, deployed to the United Arab Emirates, have neutralized numerous Iranian drones targeting the region, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. Speaking on BFMTV on March 4, Barrot stated that the jets “neutralized Iranian drones that were targeting the UAE,” securing French naval and air bases at Al Dhafra near Abu Dhabi.
The operations followed a drone strike on Sunday that hit a hangar at a French naval base adjacent to an Emirati facility in Abu Dhabi, with no injuries reported. On March 3, France reinforced its presence by deploying four additional Rafale fighter-bombers to Al Dhafra, joining 700 troops already stationed there. Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the mission as “purely defensive,” focused on protecting French assets and supporting evacuations.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the first charter flight evacuated 250 French nationals from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cyprus via A330 MRTT. Contingency plans allow up to 10 daily rotations if commercial flights remain grounded. The Rafales, armed with MICA air-to-air missiles, have conducted combat air patrols, but high operational tempo has depleted stocks, prompting concerns over readiness as reported by La Tribune on March 17.
These actions stem from Iranian retaliation after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting February 28, which killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has since launched drones and missiles at Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq, also striking a fuel terminal and Amazon data centers in Abu Dhabi.