France deploys military assets to protect Saudi oil facilities

(London = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = France has begun deploying military means to protect Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Compavreux said on the 15th (local time).

According to Reuters, the spokesperson made this statement but declined to elaborate on what military means were being used.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a broadcast interview last month, "We will send military assets, including soldiers, radar systems, and defense systems, to protect the Yanbu base on the Red Sea."

However, the French military did not directly participate in the battle, and drew a line, saying, "We are not involved in any conflict, and (dispatching military assets) is only to protect this facility."

Yanbu Port on the Red Sea coast has served as a major base for Saudi Arabia's oil exports to Europe since the outbreak of the Iran war, but Yemen's pro-Iran Houthi rebels are increasing their level of attacks on alternative Red Sea transportation routes, including this port.