According to information released on the Twitter account of Florence Parly French Minister of the Armed Forces on February 4, 2022, France has offered its assistance to the UAE (United Arab Emirates) with Rafale fighter aircraft for the protection of its airspace following the recent Houthi rebel’s attacks using drones and missiles.
Since 2008, the French air force has deployed Mirage 2000-5F and Rafale fighter aircraft at the Al Dhafra Air Base which is located approximately 32 km south of Abu Dhabi. Under its strategic partnership with the UAE, France has a military presence at the Camp de la Paix (“Peace Camp”), also called Abu Dhabi Base and known and referred to by the French military as Implantation Militaire française aux Émirats Arabes Unis (I English French Military Settlement in UAE).