 "Macron says France's military in West Asia on high alert, advises nationals not to travel to the region")
President Emmanuel Macron said Friday (June 13) that the French forces in West Asia were on high alert amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The French leader added that the country has taken steps to ensure the safety of French nationals in the region.
In a post on X, Macron said, “This morning, I held a National Security and Defense Council meeting on the situation in the Near and Middle East and its consequences for our country. We have taken all necessary decisions to address the evolving situation and to ensure the safety of the French people.”
“We have decided to strengthen our Sentinel system to deal with all potential threats on national territory. Several measures have also been taken to guarantee the security of our nationals, our troops and our embassies in the region. Our military presence in the region is on alert. I ask our compatriots not to go there, whatever the pretext,” Macron wrote.
Earlier, France also expressed its readiness to help the Jewish nation fend off Iranian strikes.
Macron stated in a press conference that Paris was ready to participate in operations to defend Israel if Iran launches attacks against it and if the situation allows for such a commitment.
“I have offered Israel my readiness to help. In no way do I intend to participate in any offensive operation ,” Macron said.
Iran-Israel conflict
On Friday, sirens blared across Israel as Iran fired numerous ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel’s overnight airstrikes.
A few hours later, Iran launched another wave of missiles at Israel. Some missiles broke through Israel’s missile defence system, causing damage and injuries, though the full extent of the destruction remains unclear.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsVideos on social media, verified by The New York Times, showed a missile hitting an area with multiple military sites, including the IDF’s main command centre. The footage indicates that at least one Iranian missile penetrated Israel’s air defences and hit a key military site in central Tel Aviv.
On Friday, Israel conducted major airstrikes on Iran, targeting nuclear and military facilities and aiming to take out top military leaders. Media reports state the surprise attack killed at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, including the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
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