PARIS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that French Rafale fighter jets had "neutralized" Iranian drones targeting French military bases in the United Arab Emirates, as the conflict in the Middle East entered its fifth day.

Speaking on French news channel BFM TV, Barrot said that since France maintains naval and air bases in the UAE, the Rafale jets and their crews had been mobilized to ensure the security of French assets. He said that France "has the right to intervene."

On Sunday, French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin said on social media that a hangar at France's naval base, located adjacent to an Emirati base, was hit in a drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi. No injuries were reported. ■