President Emmanuel Macron said France and its allies were preparing a "defensive" mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, March 9, as well as warning that an attack on Cyprus was an attack on all of Europe, as the Middle East war entered its second week. Separately, on Monday morning, Macron spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon, the Elysée said.

Macron, who was on a trip to Cyprus to discuss regional security, said the joint mission would be aimed at escorting container ships and tankers in order to gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz "after the end of the hottest phase of the conflict." "This is essential for international trade, but also for the flow of gas and oil, which must be able to leave this region once again," said Macron, speaking in Paphos, on the southwestern coast of Cyprus.