French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Riyadh for an unscheduled stop during his Gulf tour to demonstrate support for Saudi Arabia amid a barrage of attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants from Yemen.
The visit, which was added to Macron’s itinerary, came as Saudi Arabia faced repeated attacks on critical infrastructure, including its airport and energy facilities. It followed France’s announcement that it would provide air defense support to the kingdom as the Houthis intensified their campaign against Saudi targets.
Macron is the first Western head of state to visit Saudi Arabia since the rebel group escalated its attacks this month.
Meeting Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Macron discussed bilateral strategic ties, regional developments and cooperation to strengthen security and stability, according to Saudi state media.
French President Emmanuel Macron met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. The Elysee Palace described the trip as a solidarity visit to the kingdom amid ongoing Houthi attacks. https://t.co/mrmsrBLnRd
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 21, 2026
France has moved beyond diplomatic expressions of solidarity, deploying personnel and military capabilities to help protect Yanbu, a key Saudi oil-export terminal on the Red Sea. Speaking to reporters in Qatar on Wednesday, Macron said the deployment had been in place for eight days and stressed that France’s role was defensive.
The deployment underscores growing international concern over the security of Saudi Arabia’s strategic infrastructure as the conflict intensifies. However, the official Saudi readout of Macron’s meeting did not announce a new military agreement or arms package.
The visit also highlighted the close link between regional security and energy supplies. During his wider Gulf tour, Macron sought to strengthen energy cooperation and limit the impact of the conflict on fuel supplies and prices. Agreements reported during the tour included additional diesel supplies from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as increased liquefied natural gas deliveries from Qatar.
Egypt Offers Defensive Support as Iran Urges Caution
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Cairo’s proposed military support for Saudi Arabia was intended “to defend Saudi territory” and would not involve an attack on Yemen.
Al-Qahera News reported that Sisi also said the stability of Gulf states was a matter of Egyptian national security. The remarks were reported ahead of the broadcast of his speech.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any Egyptian or other foreign intervention in the Yemen conflict would make the situation “more difficult.”
In an interview with Iraqi state broadcaster Al-Iraqiya, Araghchi said Egypt had sufficient experience to avoid becoming embroiled in such a complex conflict.
“We believe that any foreign presence or interference will only make resolving this issue more difficult,” he said.
Araghchi also noted that Egypt had made clear it would not enter Yemen or wage war against the country.
Separately, Araghchi told Al Jazeera that Iran had received no response from either Saudi Arabia or the Houthis to its offer to mediate an end to the fighting. He reiterated that Egyptian involvement would further complicate the conflict.
Coalition Reports Intercepting Drones
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it had intercepted and destroyed several drones headed toward Saudi territory.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said in a post on X that four drones launched toward the kingdom had been intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Province and the Medina region, home to one of Islam’s holiest cities.
In a subsequent post, al-Malki reported that another drone had been intercepted in the Eastern Province. He did not identify those responsible for launching the drones.
Houthis Target Military Sites in Southern Yemen
Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a military base at an airport in the southern city of Al Mukalla, which is controlled by the Saudi-backed government, AFP reported, citing two military officials.
One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Houthis had used missiles and drones to target a military base at Al Rayyan airport housing forces from the Saudi-led coalition.
The Houthis also claimed to have attacked a Saudi-run military camp near the airport in the Yemeni city of Aden.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the group had targeted the Saudi forces’ operations room at Badr camp in Aden with a ballistic missile.
A police official and an AFP journalist reported seeing smoke rising from the area.
Dakar Rally Set to Return to Africa
The Dakar Rally will return to Africa for its 49th edition amid security concerns linked to the conflict in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, which has hosted the event since 2020.
Three people involved in the World Rally-Raid Championship told Reuters that the decision had been made. The rally is scheduled to run from January 9 to 22.
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
