One French soldier was killed and six others were wounded after an Iran-made drone attack in northern Iraq that President Emmanuel Macron said was unacceptable and unjustified.
The soldiers, among about 600 French personnel based in Iraq, were providing counterterrorism training in the region as part of an international coalition fighting Islamic State and were struck on Thursday just hours after an Italian base was also targeted in the area.
The dead officer, the first European soldier killed in the conflict, was named as Arnaud Frion.
Colonel François-Xavier de la Chesnais told reporters an Iranian-made Shahed drone had been behind the strike.
“This attack against our forces engaged in the fight against Daesh (ISIS) since 2015 is unacceptable,” Macron said in an X post overnight, confirming the death of one officer.
“Their presence in Iraq is strictly within the framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” added Macron.
The attack is the latest sign of an escalation in the region 13 days after the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, triggering a response from Tehran that has targeted countries across the region.
It has also raised questions in Paris over France’s stance in the conflict, which until now has been purely defensive, and to support Arab partners in downing Iranian drones and missiles.
A French naval base in the UAE was hit a week ago.
One official said that attack had specifically targeted France.
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