French Soldier Killed in Drone Attack in Iraq

A French soldier was killed and several others were injured in a drone attack targeting French forces near Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, French President Emmanuel Macron announced.

Macron said the attack resulted in the death of Sergeant Arnaud Frion, who he said died “in service of France,” while multiple soldiers were wounded.

French troops in the area were participating in counterterrorism training exercises with Iraqi partners, according to the French Armed Forces. Officials added that six injured soldiers were immediately transferred to the nearest medical facility.

Local authorities said the strike was carried out by two drones and targeted a military base in the Mehla Qahra area about 40 kilometers southwest of Erbil.

The attack occurred shortly after another drone strike targeted an Italian military base inside a complex hosting several foreign forces in the region. No injuries were reported in that incident.

Following the earlier attack, Italian authorities announced plans to temporarily withdraw all troops stationed at the base.

Foreign military personnel, including French and Italian forces, are deployed in Erbil to train regional security forces as part of the US-led international coalition formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State.

Since the outbreak of the broader conflict in the Middle East, the Kurdistan region of Iraq has been hit by several attacks attributed to Iran-backed Iraqi armed factions, many of which have been intercepted by air defense systems.