A French non-commissioned officer lost his life during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraqi Kurdistan, President Emmanuel Macron announced early Thursday via X. This marks the first French military death since the outbreak of the Middle East war.
Details of the attack
The soldier, Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Alpine Rifle Regiment, based in Var, “fell for France during an attack in the Erbil region,” Macron confirmed, adding that other soldiers were injured. He condemned the attacks, stating that “the war in Iran cannot justify such actions.”
Six French soldiers were injured in a drone strike on a base in Mala Kara, approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Erbil, as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition under U.S. leadership. French troops, alongside personnel from other countries, have been training Iraqi partners in the fight against terrorism since 2015.
Strategic deployment
President Macron stressed that the French forces’ presence is strictly in the context of anti-terrorism operations, referencing the fight against the Islamic State (IS). Paris has deployed a strong naval and air presence, including the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, eight frigates, and two helicopter carriers across a vast maritime area covering the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.
Security context
Since the escalation of the Middle East conflict on 28 February, triggered by U.S.-Israeli bombings in Iran, the region, including Iraqi Kurdistan and Erbil, has experienced repeated attacks, often attributed to Iran-aligned Iraqi groups. Most attacks have been intercepted by air defence systems.
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