Macron sends nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Mediterranean

French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the redeployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle from the Baltic to the Mediterranean Sea.

He said that Rafale fighter jets, air-defense systems and airborne radar systems had already been deployed in the Middle East, pointing to the threat of Iranian attacks similar to the strike on the British Air Force base in Cyprus on Monday.

"This requires our support. That is why I have decided to send additional air-defense assets there as well, along with a French frigate, the Languedoc, which will arrive off the coast of Cyprus later this evening," Macron said.

The president also said that French forces had been active in shooting down drones in the early hours of the conflict as Iran retaliated against Israeli and US strikes by firing on US targets in nearby Arab countries.

"We reacted immediately and shot down drones in self-defence in the early hours of the conflict to defend the airspace of our allies, who know they can count on us," Macron said, in reference to agreements with Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

He was also critical of those Israeli and US strikes, saying the two countries were acting "outside international law."

Zelenskyy calls Qatari, UAE leaders, floats drone defense assistance

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had discussed Iranian strikes in calls with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Zelenskyy sought to highlight Ukraine's experience trying to counter Russian drone attacks in recent years and offer assistance in exchange for help from the Gulf states.

"We discussed how we can help in this situation and support the protection of lives," he said on X. "It was agreed that our teams will work on this." 

Zelenskyy expressed solidarity with both countries, and said that Ukrainian and Qatari teams would remain in contact to "determine how we can jointly provide greater protection to people." 

While it's not clear how tempted Gulf states might be, officials in Kyiv have said they would be ready to send drone specialists to the Middle East to help intercept Iranian drones in exchange for assistance brokering a ceasefire with Russia.

Zelenskyy also said on Tuesday that Ukraine would be open to exchanging interceptor drones with Middle East allies for air defense missiles.