The French aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle off the coast of Toulon, in the Mediterranean, June 5, 2021. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP
France may not have chosen this war, yet the country has found itself somewhat reluctantly drawn into a regional conflict in the Middle East. The outcome of the "Epic Fury" operation that the US and Israel launched against Iran on February 28 remains uncertain.
In a solemn address delivered on the evening of Tuesday, March 3, Emmanuel Macron announced France's involvement in military operations, stating that these would be conducted in a "strictly defensive" posture. "This is indeed our responsibility (…) it is aimed at protecting and restoring peace as swiftly as possible," justified the president, speaking from his office at the Elysée, where a small Napoleonic guard lead soldier was displayed on his desk, rifle at the ready.
Since hostilities began, the Iranian regime, fighting for its survival, has retaliated against Israel and US interests in the region while also targeting Gulf countries and Europe. On Monday, the British Akrotiri military base in southern Cyprus was struck. "A new situation is emerging," stated Macron. "Strikes are expected to continue in the coming days to weaken Iran and destroy its retaliatory capacities. And in response, Iranian strikes throughout the region should then continue," he cautioned, confirming the scenario of a regional escalation.
