A French chartered aircraft en route to the United Arab Emirates to evacuate French citizens was forced to turn back after encountering a missile threat in the region, according to France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabaro. The Air France flight had been scheduled to bring French nationals home from the UAE, but the incident underscored the growing instability in the Middle East and the increasing difficulty of ensuring safe repatriation operations.

The development followed a missile and drone alert issued to Dubai residents last Thursday night, warning of potential Iranian attacks. Although the alert was later withdrawn, UAE authorities confirmed intercepting six missiles and more than one hundred drones launched by Iran. No casualties or serious injuries were reported, according to official statements.

The incident highlights the heightened regional tensions and the operational risks faced by evacuation missions amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran and other regional actors.