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France's position in Middle East is defensive, Macron says, after attack on its soldiers

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 13, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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France's position in Middle East is defensive, Macron says, after attack on its soldiers
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PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday a drone attack in Northern Iraq against French soldiers was "unacceptable" and that France's position in the region was "defensive"

Macron States France's Position in Middle East Is Defensive After Iraq Attack

France Responds to Drone Attack on Soldiers in Northern Iraq

Macron Condemns the Attack as Unacceptable

PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday a drone attack in Northern Iraq against French soldiers was "unacceptable" and that France's position in the region was "defensive".

Request for Military Analysis

Macron told a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris that he had asked for a full military analysis to be made of the attack.

Casualties Among French Soldiers

One French soldier was killed and six others were wounded after a drone attack in northern Iraq that President Emmanuel Macron earlier had said was said was unacceptable and unjustified.

Reporting and Editorial Credits

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar-Gupta, editing by Inti Landauro)

Key Takeaways

  • The drone strike occurred on March 12 in the Erbil region of Iraqi Kurdistan, killing Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion and injuring six other soldiers during anti‑Daesh operations under France’s defensive posture in the region. (lemonde.fr)
  • A pro‑Iranian militia, Ashab Al‑Kahf, has claimed responsibility and threatened further attacks on French interests, citing France’s deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle as a provocation. (lemonde.fr)
  • France’s regional engagement is primarily through Operation Chammal and a newly assumed NATO Mission Iraq, focused on counter‑terrorism training and advisory roles, while maintaining a defensive posture. (lemonde.fr)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What did President Macron say about the attack on French soldiers in Iraq?
President Macron called the drone attack 'unacceptable' and stressed that France's position in the Middle East is defensive.
How many French soldiers were affected by the drone attack in northern Iraq?
One French soldier was killed and six others were wounded in the drone attack.
What steps has France taken in response to the drone attack?
Macron requested a full military analysis of the attack to be conducted.
Where did Macron address the issue of the drone attack?
Macron discussed the issue at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris.

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