BAGHDAD/PARIS, March 12 (Reuters) - Six French soldiers providing counter-terrorism training in northern Iraq were wounded after a drone attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, France's army said on
One French soldier killed and six others wounded after Iraq drone attack
French Forces Targeted in Escalating Middle East Conflict
By John Irish
Details of the Drone Attack
PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - 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.
Victim Identification and Attack Attribution
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.
French Government Response
"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.
Regional Escalation and French Involvement
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.
Previous Attacks on French Assets
A French naval base in the United Arab Emirates was hit a week ago, although officials sought to play down the attack at the time. One official said that attack had specifically targeted France.
French Military Presence in the Region
Troop Deployment and Strategic Interests
FRANCE HAS ABOUT 4,000 TROOPS IN REGION
Iraqi Shi'ite militants have picked up the pace of drone and missile attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq in the last three to four days, according to three Iraqi security sources and two sources close to the groups.
Militant Claims and French Response
One group, Ashab al-Kahf, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a response to France sending its aircraft carrier to the region and said French assets in the region were legitimate targets.
The French government will hold a defence cabinet meeting to discuss the situation and whether to reply, officials said.
France's Diplomatic and Economic Stakes
"Three countries have huge interests in Iraq: the United States, Britain and France. France has a military presence, but also a massive diplomatic presence and economic presence from Basrah to Erbil so when it elaborates its riposte, it needs to consult partners and take its interests into consideration," said Adel Bakawan, director of the European Institute for the Middle East.
Statements from French and Regional Leaders
Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy in Paris on Friday, Macron said France's posture in the region remained defensive and he would not comment on a potential response.
He said he had tasked his military to complete a full of analysis of the attack, which would be completed in the coming hours.
Other Recent Attacks in the Region
Erbil Governor Omed Koshnaw said in a statement that the drone attack was in the Makhmour area.
An overnight airstrike that hit an Italian military base in Iraqi Kurdistan was deliberate, the Italian defence ministry said earlier on Thursday, targeting a facility hosting NATO personnel.
French Naval Deployment and Regional Forces
France is deploying about a dozen naval vessels, including its aircraft carrier strike group, to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and potentially the Strait of Hormuz as part of defensive support to allies threatened by the conflict in the Middle East.
It has about 4,000 troops in the region, spread across bases in Djibouti, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon.
(Reporting by John Irish, Ahmed Rasheed and Mrinmay Dey; Editing by David Gregorio, Michael Perry, William Maclean and Sharon Singeton)
