French military support being given to Saudi Arabia to help it confront attacks from Yemen’s Houthis is “strictly defensive”, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said, AFP reports.

His comment, made on state television network France 2, follows President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of French troops, radar units and “defence systems” being sent to Saudi Arabia.

Asked whether France’s aid meant that Paris had become a partner in Saudi Arabia’s war against the Houthis, Barrot said: “Absolutely not… This is strictly defensive.”

He added that “since the start of the (US-Israeli) war against Iran, we have deployed military assets to protect our allies, our partners”.

“Does that mean at any time we can be considered co-belligerents? Never.”