Israel takes retaliatory action against France

(SeaPRwire) –   US President Donald Trump had earlier criticized Paris for obstructing an ammunition shipment meant for the war against Iran

Israel’s Defense Ministry has revealed retaliatory measures against France following US President Donald Trump’s public criticism of the European NATO nation for denying airspace access to arms shipments bound for the Middle East.

In a Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump called the French decision “very unhelpful” to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, noting that Washington “will remember” the action. France’s limitations on aiding weapons transfers to Israel were paired with a wider arms sales embargo on West Jerusalem that was put in place over a year prior.

In a Tuesday interview with Channel 12, Israeli Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram said he and Defense Minister Israel Katz intend to reduce dependence on foreign arms providers—particularly nations like France that Israel does not consider “friendly.”

In an official announcement, the Israeli Defense Ministry declared it “will cut all defense purchases from France to zero” and confirmed it had canceled a scheduled visit by a high-ranking French defense official. The ministry also noted that “there will be no new professional interactions with the French military.”

Macron ally diverts to Lebanon

Per Ynet, Alice Ruffo—a deputy to French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin and said to be a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron—was set to visit Israel on Sunday.

Accounts of the event timeline vary; some claim France’s airspace denial occurred after West Jerusalem canceled Ruffo’s visit. Reuters-cited sources noted this was the first instance Paris had denied access to an Israel-bound arms shipment since the campaign for regime change in Iran began over a month earlier.

Ruffo traveled to Lebanon this week, where she met with top officials and supervised the handover of 39 French-manufactured VAB armored personnel carriers to the Lebanese Army. Israel currently controls the southern region of Lebanon.

Mounting diplomatic fallout

Macron implemented the arms embargo on Israel in late 2024 as part of a larger initiative to put pressure on West Jerusalem regarding its military operations in Gaza. Israeli defense companies have also been prohibited from displaying their products at French arms shows.

While France still exports some dual-use items to Israel, the volume has fallen sharply. A 2025 parliamentary report stated that these exports—requiring individual approval for each case—amounted to €76.5 million ($88.6 million) in 2024, a 60% decrease from the year before.

At the same time, most European NATO allies have turned down U.S. requests to support its attack on Iran. The Pentagon is said to have faced problems using Italian and British military bases for the bombing campaign, while Spain refused any involvement and has condemned the U.S. and Israel for starting the conflict.