France Sends Military Aid to Saudi Arabia to Protect Oil Hub from Houthi Attacks

As pressure mounts on Saudi Arabia in the war against Yemen's Houthis. The Houthis continue to target Saudi cities and its oil facilities. At a time when the United States is distancing itself from direct military intervention and Pakistan is still negotiating its next move under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, France has announced military assistance to Saudi Arabia. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that his country will send troops, radars, and air defense systems to protect Saudi Arabia's key oil hub, Yanbu. Macron said in interviews with French TV channels TF1 and France 2 that France will send "troops, radars, and defense systems" to protect Yanbu. However, he also made clear that France's objective is not to go directly to war against the Houthis, but to protect Saudi Arabia's vital energy infrastructure. That is, the primary mission of French troops will not be to strengthen Saudi Arabia's security and air defense in Yanbu. Yanbu is not just a large energy storage facility located along the Red Sea coast.