Macron: French soldier killed in drone attack in Iraq

A French soldier wounded in a drone attack on a military base in Iraq has died, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday, 13 March.

The soldier and five colleagues were wounded in an attack on a military base in Erbil Province, Iraq.

“Staff Sergeant Arnaud Frion…has fallen for France in an attack near Erbil in Iraq,” Macron stated on platform X.

He said the presence of French forces in Iraq is entirely consistent with counter-terrorism agreements and that the situation in Iran cannot justify such attacks.

Iran has continued to strike Israeli territory and American military targets in the Middle East in retaliation for combined US-Israeli military operations on 28 February.

The first day of strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and at least 165 female schoolchildren.

Total casualties in Iran are estimated to have reached more than 1,200 people.