France Scrambles Rafale Jets to UAE After Drone Hits Abu Dhabi Base

​ABU DHABI – The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has shifted from a monitoring role to active combat air patrols over the United Arab Emirates today, following a direct drone strike on a French military facility.

​Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed on Tuesday that French Rafale fighter jets stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base have been mobilized to secure the airspace and protect French interests. The escalation comes after a drone struck a hangar at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, an incident Barrot linked to the widening regional fallout from the ongoing conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

​”These Rafales and their pilots are mobilized to ensure the security of our facilities,” Barrot stated during an interview with BFMTV. “They have already carried out missions to safeguard the airspace around our bases.”

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​The regional situation remains volatile following the weekend’s joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, which reportedly resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Tehran has launched waves of drone and missile attacks targeting U.S. allies and military installations across the Gulf, including those in the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.

​While France has maintained that it was not involved in the initial strikes against Iran, Barrot emphasized that Paris stands ready to uphold its defense agreements with Gulf partners. France currently has hundreds of personnel from the Navy, Air Force, and Army stationed in the UAE.

​As the “ripple effect” of the Iran conflict threatens global energy supplies and regional stability, French officials are reportedly in “constant exchange” with Emirati counterparts to bolster anti-missile and anti-drone defenses.