France sends forces to protect a Saudi oil facility amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab

Energy prices are witnessing a continuous rise globally and in Europe in particular. What made the situation more difficult was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of energy facilities in Ukraine and Russia, leading to the Houthi attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, increasing the pressure on the European citizen’s pocket, and growing fears of a new wave of rising prices.

Since Europe and the major industrialized countries are among the parties most affected by the turmoil in energy markets and rising prices, Paris was quick to express its readiness to protect the vital infrastructure for oil supplies. On the same day that the Houthis targeted an oil facility in Yanbu, French President Emmanuel Macron announced during a television interview that his country would send forces and defense equipment to contribute to protecting the facility.

The Yanbu facility, the main Saudi crude oil export terminal on the Red Sea, is also a target of the Houthis in Yemen. The importance of the port and the facility comes from the fact that it has become the main station for exporting oil after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. The Houthis announced on Tuesday (September 22) that the strategic coastal city of Mokha and the border governorate of Al-Jawf had been subjected to bloody strikes, which they attributed to Saudi Arabia, more than a week after the Houthis launched a lightning attack that enabled them to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is vital for energy flows and global shipping.

"Facility protection only"

Following the Houthi attack on the port of Yanbu, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would send troops and defense equipment to contribute to protecting the strategic oil facility on the Red Sea. Macron said, during a television interview on Thursday (September 24, 2026), that the mission will include soldiers, radar and air defense systems, stressing that French forces will not engage in combat. He added: "We will not interfere in any conflict, but the mission will be limited to protecting this facility."

Macron's announcement comes as part of his defense of "his international move aimed at reducing fuel prices, without ruling out, at the same time, the eventual necessity of reducing taxes to avoid a sharp rise in prices," according to Le Figaro newspaper.

Macron stressed the seriousness of geopolitical challenges, even more than he did when he received party leaders and candidates to succeed him last week at the Elysee Palace.

Macron stressed that the authorities are doing “everything” to “avoid” a shortage in supplies, and that supplies of “diesel, gas and heating oil” are guaranteed “until the end of the year.” But he did not completely rule out the possibility of problems arising in early 2027 “if the crisis worsens.”

He reiterated that the reason for this is due to the war in the Middle East and the severe tensions in the strategic straits, especially the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, in addition, although to a lesser extent, to the war in Ukraine. But at the same time, he stressed that he did not want to "involve" France into the conflict between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and these "rebels" loyal to Iran.

The opposition is not reassured by the president's move

The French opposition was quick to criticize Macron's move, as the Vice-President of the National Rally Party, Sebastien Chonot, said on Friday (September 25, 2026) that French "militaries should not be sent" to protect the Yanbu facility. The far-right MP said in a statement also reported by Le Figaro newspaper: “This is not the right idea, and it is not the right way.” He considered that this step means "bearing a number of risks that we do not want to bear (...) because we do not have defense agreements that bind us to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and make it our partner."

National Rally MP Florian Filippo also stated, “France does not have to send troops to Saudi Arabia!” Macron puts his finger in a very dangerous spiral, and Parliament must demand a vote. “Take action!” he said.

Mélenchon demands a vote in Parliament

The Proud France Party's candidate for the presidential elections, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, called on Thursday for a vote in Parliament on Emmanuel Macron's announcement of sending "military capabilities" to Saudi Arabia.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon wrote on the X platform: “Sending troops to Saudi Arabia means stationing them on a war zone. If Al Qaeda was attacked, what would we do? There is no room for us to become a belligerent. Therefore the National Assembly must vote on this issue. Article 35 of the Constitution.”

For her part, Clemence Gettier, Vice-President of the National Assembly and representative of the France Proud Party for the Val-de-Marne region, said in an interview with France Inter radio: “The head of state cannot send troops to the Middle East without a discussion taking place in Parliament.” As for Dominique de Villepin, founder of the “France Humanitaire” party, he said in a statement to the “BFMTV” channel: “Emmanuel Macron wants to make a gesture towards Saudi Arabia, which finds itself largely alone.”

Military spending alone is not enough

Despite its clear financial and military superiority, Saudi Arabia has been unable, for more than a decade, to resolve the conflict in Yemen in its favor, as it intervened more than a decade ago to support government forces confronting the Houthis. Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on weapons and military equipment, and has historically relied on a large presence of foreign personnel, contractors and trainers to support its forces. Major arms deals from Western parties, including the United States, Britain, and France, have become a feature of Saudi defense policy and diplomatic strategy.

Last week, the United States agreed to sell 48 F-35 stealth aircraft to Saudi Arabia for a value of $24.3 billion, which will make it the first country, other than Israel, to possess them in the region, although this is likely not for years. Despite this, the Saudi army's experience in managing complex combat operations remains limited. Bernard Heikal, an expert on Saudi affairs at Princeton University in the United States, said during an online discussion after the recent Houthi attack, “The Saudis must build an army ready to fight and a people ready to die in defense of what they have.” “They don't have that right now,” he adds.

Trump did nothing to attack the Houthis

US President Donald Trump has changed his position several times in recent days regarding his strategy in Yemen, in light of Saudi pressure to carry out strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis, and fears of Washington's involvement in a new front in the Middle East, according to what the New York Times reported.

The dilemma facing Trump reached its peak during a call made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week, “again urging him to intervene to stop the rapid advance” of the Houthis, according to the newspaper.

Trump had informed his advisors the previous day of his opposition to launching strikes, but he changed his position after the call and “ordered the Pentagon to prepare to carry out air strikes against the Houthis,” according to the New York Times.

However, by Sunday afternoon, it appeared that he had backed down again and decided not to carry out the strikes, “at least for now,” according to US administration officials who spoke to the New York Times on condition of anonymity. A senior administration official simply told the newspaper, “The United States is bound by a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, and we will always defend our allies.”