France announced on Wednesday that it had deployed its military assets in the Middle East to address what it termed as the Iranian threat, while Germany cautioned that the region was in danger of being engulfed in conflict following Tehran's missile attack on Israel.
"France strongly condemns the ballistic missile attack on Israel launched from Iran and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Israel's security. France has engaged its military resources in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat," the French Foreign Ministry stated in an official release. The statement did not provide additional details on France's specific involvement in thwarting the Iranian attack, but a source confirmed that French forces were active on Tuesday night to intercept Iranian missiles.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot coordinated with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to align diplomatic strategies and is scheduled to meet with his German counterpart in Berlin on Wednesday. The French Ministry also convened a UN Security Council meeting to address the escalating situation in the Middle East later that afternoon.
In response to the crisis, France dispatched a warship to the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, following the deployment of a helicopter carrier on Monday in anticipation of potential mass evacuations. The Pentagon reported that two US Navy destroyers fired approximately a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles targeting Israel. Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder clarified that no other US military assets were involved in shooting down the missiles, which were all launched from within Iran.
The UK armed forces also played a role in efforts to prevent further escalation as Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday night, according to British Defence Secretary John Healey. British media reported that UK fighter jets, based in Cyprus, supported Israel during the attack. This was reminiscent of the UK's involvement in April when Iran last attacked Israel with missiles and drones, with reports indicating that Royal Air Force jets assisted in shooting down some of the drones.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, Healey condemned Iran's actions, noting, "British forces have this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East." He expressed gratitude to all British personnel involved in the operation for their bravery and professionalism, and reiterated the UK's support for Israel's right to defend itself and its citizens against threats.
Healey is set to visit Cyprus on Wednesday to meet with UK troops who are preparing for the possibility of evacuating British citizens from Lebanon. The UK government has arranged a charter flight to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon on Wednesday.
