The French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced this Friday the death of a French soldier as a result of an “unacceptable” attack on a French base in Erbil, northern Iraq, where French forces have been involved in the fight against terrorism since 2015. Five other soldiers have been injured in this aggression.
“The non-commissioned officer Arnaud Frionof the 7th Battalion of Alpine Hunters of Varces, died for France during an attack in the Iraqi region of Erbil. Several of our soldiers were injured. France accompanies them,” the French president wrote on his social networks.
“This attack against our forces that have participated in the fight against Daesh since 2015 is unacceptable. Their presence in Iraq is strictly part of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran does not justify such attacks“, continues this message.
Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Alpine Hunter Battalion of Varces died for France during an attack in the Erbil region in Iraq.
To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the Nation.
Many of our military…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 13, 2026
The French head of state expressed “all the affection and solidarity of the Nation” to his family and his “brothers in arms.”
Hours, the French General Staff had informed local media that six French soldiers who were participating in training in the fight against terrorism had been injured in the drone attack on the Erbil base.
LCI television indicated that the French soldiers were in a military base where Iraqi Kurdish forces were trained in the fight against terrorism and that there were troops of other nationalities, such as Italians, in it.
In the vicinity of that base, located between Erbil and Mosul, there are pro-Iran Shiite militiaswhich had generated some skirmishes in recent days.
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