This Monday, April 15, the rebellious deputy for Hauts-de-Seine, Aurélien Saintoul requested, in a joint letter with Bastien Lachaud – also a deputy for France Insoumise (LFI) –, for clarification on the conditions in which the French armed forces had intervened on the night of April 13 to 14, helping with their allies to intercept Iranian drones and ballistic missiles targeting Israel. The deputies considered that the official declarations, in particular those of President Emmanuel Macron, were marked “ a certain confusion as to the motives, objectives and modalities of the action of the French forces », According to this letter.
The interception of Iranian drones and missiles by France last weekend was indeed carried out “ in compliance with the Constitution and international law », replied the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, in a letter dated Tuesday April 16 that Agence France-Presse was able to consult. Sébastien Lecornu explains that “ French armed forces intervened as Jordanian airspace was violated by a significant number of drones and missiles launched by Iran against Israel “.
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The minister adds that the military influence that France has on Jordanian territory was thus “ likely to be reached by vectors flying over it “. He assures that the mobilization of French military resources was “ necessary and strictly proportionate to neutralize this threat “. Furthermore, this “ helped limit the risk of escalation in the region “, estimates the minister before emphasizing that “ this mobilization was in full compliance with international law since it was carried out in particular with the agreement of the Jordanian authorities “.
Regarding the 2015 agreement relating to the status of French forces deployed in Jordan, which does not aim for France's participation in actions to maintain or restore national sovereignty, the minister explains that this clause is “ without prejudice to the ad hoc consent of the Jordanian authorities to the use of armed force on its territory, as in the present case “.
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He also recalls that the presence of French armed forces in the region and as part of the anti-terrorist operation Chammal “ was authorized under the Constitution by a vote of Parliament based on its article 35 “, authorization which was extended in January 2015. ” In this context, the French armies are authorized to take any useful measure to protect their elements and their influence against any threat from wherever it comes. », Finally underlines Sébastien Lecornu.
