President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment of French soldiers and radar systems to protect critical energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. France will send troops and air defense weaponry to the port of Yanbu to secure a refinery and pipeline that exported more than 5 million barrels per day before recent strikes. The intervention follows claims by Iran-backed Houthi rebels that they hit Aramco facilities in Yanbu and a sensitive target in Riyadh, though the Saudi-led coalition reported it intercepted 6 ballistic missiles fired toward Yanbu and Taif on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia is convening an urgent chiefs of staff meeting with Turkey and Pakistan under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement to coordinate security support. The regional tension spiked oil prices, with Brent crude rising 3% overnight before settling at $106.60 a barrel on Thursday and later slipping 0.8% to $105.75 on Friday. Macron stated that French forces are intended to shield the energy hub and will not participate in combat or engage in the broader conflict.