French soldier dies after a drone attack in Iraq

A drone strike was carried out on Thursday, March 12, targeting the Mala Kara base near Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. At this time, it is confirmed that one French soldier was killed and several others were wounded. Earlier, pro-Iranian armed groups operating under the name Islamic Resistance Movement in Iraq had claimed responsibility for similar attacks on US bases in the region.

During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, a similar attack occurred. Two drones struck an Italian base in Erbil. No Italian soldiers were injured, but Defense Minister Guido Crosetto decided to withdraw personnel from the base.

The French response has been cautious, across virtually all political factions. Minister for Equality Aurore Bergé emphasized that France is not a party to the conflict in the Middle East and that Paris will continue to defend its allies. Jean-Yves Tangue, a deputy from the right-wing National Rally, stated that the soldier’s death does not affect France’s engagement in the region, noting that the units stationed at the base “are not acting against Iran, but against terrorism” in the Middle East. Left-wing candidate for mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, called for national unity and solidarity. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the presence of French troops in Iraq is strictly linked to the fight against terrorism, not to the campaign led by the United States and Israel.

Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Autonomous Region. French forces have been stationed there for several years, focusing on training Kurdish troops and combating the Islamic State. The drone attack on March 12 resulted in the first death of a French soldier since the beginning of the Middle East war, which started on February 28.