French soldier killed during attack in Iraq’s Erbil region: Macron

ISTANBUL

French president announced early Friday that a French soldier was killed and several others injured during an attack in Iraq’s Erbil region.

“Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion from Varces died for France during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq,” Emmanuel Macron said on US social media company X.

He called the attack "unacceptable," noting that French troops have been engaged in the fight against ISIS (Daesh) since 2015.

“Their presence in Iraq is part of the strict framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” he said.

“To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the Nation,” he added.

French political figures from across the spectrum also paid tribute to the soldier.

Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a lawmaker from the far-right National Rally, said the party “pays tribute to the memory of this fallen soldier,” describing the death as “a shock.”

Speaking on TF1, Tanguy said the attack “does not call into question” France’s engagement in the region, emphasizing that French forces are “not engaged against Iran but against terrorism.”

“We must not give in to Iranian propaganda. We are at war against terrorism, not against Iran,” he said, adding that retaliation should target the terrorist groups responsible for the attack.

Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans party and a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, also paid tribute to the fallen soldier on X.

“Tribute to the Chief Warrant Officer of the 7th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion from Varces killed in Iraq while serving France, and to his comrades who were wounded,” he wrote.

Earlier, Kurdish Regional Government commander Sirwan Barzani said that at least seven French soldiers were injured Thursday in a drone attack in Iraq’s Erbil region while providing counter-terrorism training. The origin of the drone was not immediately clear.

“The French soldiers there have no connection to war or conflict. They are simply military advisers legally present in Iraq,” he said.

Barzani described the attack as an “unjust act of terrorism” and called on the Iraqi government to prevent similar incidents.