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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 5, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, March 5, 2026
French military: We are not letting US use bases in Middle East, but US support aircraft can use a base in France
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Reports about the deployment of American assets at French bases in the Middle East are “incorrect,” the French General Staff tells The Times of Israel in a statement.
US support aircraft, and not combat aircraft, are now allowed to use the Istres air base in France, says the French military.
“This is a routine procedure within NATO,” says the general staff, adding that “France has insisted that these assets not participate in any way in operations conducted by the United States in Iran, but strictly in support of the defense of our partners in the region.”
The US has given France “full assurances” that this will be the case, says the French military.
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