March 13, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
A French military officer has been killed and several soldiers injured following a drone attack targeting coalition forces in northern Iraq, escalating security concerns in the region amid growing Middle East tensions.
The attack, which occurred near the city of Erbil in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, was strongly condemned by French President Emmanuel Macron.
France’s military confirmed that Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion lost his life in the strike, while six other French soldiers deployed in the area were wounded. The troops were reportedly engaged in counter-terrorism training missions as part of the international coalition operating in the region.
In a statement shared on social media, President Macron paid tribute to the fallen officer, declaring that Frion “died for France” and describing the attack as unacceptable.
“This attack against our forces engaged in the fight against Daesh since 2015 is unacceptable,” Macron said, referring to the extremist group Islamic State.
Officials said the drone strike occurred in the Makhmour area, not far from Erbil, according to the governor of the Kurdish regional capital, Omed Khoshnaw.
The attack came just hours after another assault targeted an Italian military base hosting personnel from NATO in the same region, raising fears of coordinated attacks against coalition forces stationed in Iraq.
Security sources say Shi’ite militant groups operating in Iraq have stepped up drone and missile attacks on Western military interests in recent days, amid escalating tensions linked to the wider Middle East conflict.
France currently maintains hundreds of troops in northern Iraq as part of the international coalition supporting Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS insurgents.
Meanwhile, France has begun deploying additional naval forces to strategic waterways in the region. Reports indicate that about a dozen vessels, including an aircraft carrier strike group, are being positioned across the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and potentially the Strait of Hormuz to support allies and safeguard key maritime routes.
The latest attack comes as the broader Middle East conflict continues to intensify, with the ongoing confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran already causing thousands of deaths, mass displacement and significant volatility in global financial and energy markets.
— SUNTV Global Channel Reporting 🌍📰
