Author: Mark Landler
Published on: 07/03/2026 | 00:00:00

AI Summary:
Europe’s leaders are facing diplomatic headwinds and criticism at home as they take part in a conflict they did not seek. But the reality is, they are being dragged into it more by the day, and that is causing political and diplomatic headaches from London to Berlin. “We are not at war,” President Emmanuel Macron of France said on social media Thursday. France scrambled Rafale fighter jets over the United Arab Emirates after a drone attack hit a French naval base in Abu Dhabi. In Italy, Ms. Meloni agreed to deploy air-defense forces to Persian Gulf countries to defend them from Iranian missiles and drones. Italy has also allowed American planes to use its bases. Mr. Merz has faced a backlash at home, partly because he offered no defense. For Europe’s leaders, there is no perfect way to thread the needle between assuaging Mr. Trump and limiting domestic outcry. Mr. Starmer has not matched that private support with public endorsement. France said it would supply Lebanese armed forces with armored transport vehicles to combat Hezbollah. Mr. Macron raised the issue of Lebanon in a phone call with Mr. Trump. He pushed for a truce in calls with regional leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iran’s Drone Strikes: The barrage of missile strikes that marked the first days of the war has now dropped by 90 percent. But a continuing deluge of Iranian drones has prompted U.S. And European officials to step up support so that the Gulf states are not drained of weapons to defend themselves. Lebanon is waiting to see if the government seizes on this moment to take decisive action against Hezbollah — and how the group will respond.

Original: 1545 words
Summary: 281 words
Percent reduction: 81.81%

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