France and Saudi Arabia are studying several options involving French military assets to help protect the Yanbu oil terminal, France's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Fabien Mandon, said on Thursday.
"It's at the study phase at the moment with Saudi Arabia. We are examining different options to protect the Yanbu terminal, which has been attacked and is essential for hydrocarbon trade," Mandon told a parliamentary hearing.
He added that France had already deployed around 2,000 troops to the region to help protect Gulf allies, including Qatar and Kuwait.
"We assure Saudi Arabia of our full solidarity in the face of these attacks," a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
The remarks came after at least three people were killed and dozens injured in Houthi attacks on two of Saudi Arabia's international airports on Wednesday, including one in the capital, Riyadh.
Yemen's Houthis said on Monday they were targeting Saudi airports and oil facilities with drones and missiles, after claiming an attack on an Aramco site in Riyadh on Saturday.