The military of France participated in efforts to intercept Iranian drones aimed at Israel ahead of this week’s ceasefire, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Wednesday night.
“I can confirm that the French army intercepted less than 10 drones in the last few days during the different military operations conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel, either by ground-to-air systems or via our Rafale fighter jets,” Lecornu said during a parliamentary debate on the situation in the Middle East.
Lecornu said Iran had launched some 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones towards Israel during the 12-day conflict.
Israel-Iran Conflict
Israel started attacking Iran on June 13, saying it aimed to destroy its arch-enemy’s nuclear capabilities. Its strikes wiped out a senior echelon of Iran’s military command and killed several nuclear scientists. Iranian authorities said 610 people were killed and nearly 5,000 injured in the country.
Tehran’s retaliatory missiles killed at least 28 people in Israel and damaged hundreds of buildings, until a ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday.
Ceasefire
After nearly two weeks of intense hostilities, Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, bringing an end to a 12-day conflict marked by aerial assaults, drone strikes, and escalating regional tensions.
The unprecedented exchange of fire, which saw both nations directly target each other’s military assets and strategic infrastructure, sparked widespread concern of a broader Middle East war.
The confrontation, which some analysts described as the most direct and dangerous escalation between the two longtime rivals, drew swift international condemnation and urgent calls for de-escalation.
Mediators, including Qatar, Oman, and the United States, played a significant role in facilitating behind-the-scenes negotiations to halt the violence.
The ceasefire, which came into effect earlier this week, has been cautiously welcomed by the international community, though tensions remain high.
Both nations have warned that while hostilities have paused, their fundamental disputes — particularly over Iran’s nuclear programme and regional influence — remain unresolved, keeping the situation fragile despite the temporary calm.
(With inputs from Reuters and IBNS)
