Macron, aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle en route to the Mediterranean

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a televised address to the country on the situation in the Middle East, announced that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle would be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, pointing out that France 'shot down drones in self-defence in the first hours of the conflict, to defend the airspace of our allies'. Macron then announced the deployment 'in the last few hours' of Rafale fighters, anti-aircraft defence systems and the dispatch of the frigate Languedoc. The president also said that two French military bases had suffered 'limited attacks'.

However, the French president also emphasised that the Israeli-American attacks on Iran were conducted "in violation of international law", also stressing that "no executioner" will be "regretted". "Together with Germany and the United Kingdom, we have clearly stated that a cessation of the attacks as soon as possible is desirable and that lasting peace in the region will only be achieved through the resumption of diplomatic negotiations," the French head of state added, stressing that it must be the Iranian people who "freely decide their own destiny". The president appealed "to stop the bombing as soon as possible".

However, Macron also said that Iran "is primarily responsible for the current situation" in the Middle East. The conflict, the Elysée chief added, "is spreading in the region and has serious consequences for the peace and security of everyone".

Macron also called a possible Israeli ground operation in Lebanon 'a dangerous escalation and a strategic mistake'.

"A coalition to secure maritime traffic in the Middle East" after the Israeli-American attack on Iran and the subsequent Iranian retaliation against the Gulf countries, Macron announced again in his address to the nation. "We are going to build a coalition to bring together the means, including military means, to resume and secure maritime traffic in the Middle East," he said.