French soldier killed, others wounded in attack in Iraq, Macron says | US-Israel war on Iran News
French President Condemns Attack in Northern Iraq
A French soldier was killed in an attack in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday. Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion, stationed in the Erbil area, was described by Macron as having “died for France.” The president condemned the incident as an “unacceptable” attack.
President Macron emphasized that French troops are in Iraq solely to combat terrorism, asserting that the ongoing conflict in Iran does not justify such violence. He also noted that several other soldiers were wounded in the attack, although specific details about their injuries were not provided. “France stands by their side and with their loved ones,” he stated.
French forces have been present in the region since 2015 as part of a multinational coalition against ISIS. According to Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Baghdad, Mahmoud Abdelwahed, the attack, along with numerous others, has been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which includes groups aligned with Iran.
Abdelwahed reported that Iraq has evolved into a “second battlefield” amid the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as Tehran has targeted facilities associated with U.S. military presence. Attacks have reportedly included U.S. interests, military bases, and diplomatic missions in Erbil and Baghdad.
A pro-Iranian militia in Iraq, Ashab Ahl al-Kahf, stated on Friday that French interests in Iraq and the region would be “under targeting fire,” according to news agency AFP.
Macron’s statement follows a report from the French military indicating that a drone strike hit a military base in Iraq, injuring six soldiers. It remains unclear if these soldiers were among those mentioned by the president.
In a related development, Italy reported that an airstrike overnight targeted its military base in Erbil, which houses NATO personnel. No injuries were reported from that incident.
In response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, President Macron expressed plans earlier this week to deploy France’s flagship aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, to the Mediterranean, along with additional air defense units to Cyprus.
