By AZE.US
France will send military personnel, radar systems and air-defense equipment to Saudi Arabia to help protect Yanbu, a key oil hub on the Red Sea coast.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris and Riyadh had finalized the deployment. He said the mission was intended to protect energy infrastructure and did not amount to French participation in the regional conflict, according to Vesti Baku.
Why Yanbu Is Under Pressure
Yanbu has become increasingly important to Saudi oil exports following disruptions on routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Red Sea port serves as the kingdom’s main alternative channel for shipping crude oil.
Macron’s announcement followed a new missile and drone attack claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement. The group said it targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu and another target in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six ballistic missiles headed toward Taif and the Yanbu area. There was no independent confirmation of damage or casualties in Yanbu or Riyadh at the time of publication.
Protecting the hub has international importance because attacks on Red Sea energy infrastructure could disrupt supplies and add renewed upward pressure on oil prices.
AZE.US