A French soldier has been killed in a drone strike in the Erbil region of northern Iraq, marking the first French military death since the outbreak of the ongoing war involving Iran late last month, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday.
The fallen soldier was identified as Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion.
Several other French troops were also injured in the attack.
According to the French presidency, the incident occurred during operations targeting remnants of the extremist group Islamic State in the northern Iraqi region.
Officials noted that the operation took place far from the primary theater of the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran.
Expressing condolences, Macron wrote in a message on social media, “To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the nation.”
He added, “Several of our soldiers have been wounded. France stands by their side and their loved ones.”
Macron condemned the attack on French personnel, describing it as “unacceptable,” while emphasizing that France’s presence in the region is focused strictly on counterterrorism operations rather than the conflict unfolding in the Middle East.
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“Their presence in Iraq is part of the strict framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” the French leader said.
France currently maintains around 800 troops across Iraq and Syria as part of the international coalition combating the Islamic State.
Their role primarily involves training local forces and supporting counterterrorism missions.
However, the ongoing regional tensions have heightened risks for foreign troops, particularly as pro-Iranian militias operating in Iraq have stepped up retaliatory actions in response to the wider conflict.
The latest drone strike follows a series of escalating attacks attributed to Iran-aligned groups. Earlier in the week, pro-Iranian militias claimed responsibility for drone strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
French military authorities said an investigation has been launched to determine the origin of the drone used in the strike and identify those responsible for the attack. Security around coalition bases in the region has also been reinforced as a precaution amid rising threats to foreign forces operating in Iraq.
The development has heightened concerns about the safety of international troops deployed in the region, as tensions linked to the broader Middle East conflict continue to spill over into Iraq. Analysts warn that further retaliatory attacks by armed groups aligned with Iran could increase pressure on coalition forces involved in counterterrorism operations.
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