French army pays tribute to soldier killed in Iraq amid Middle East hostilities

Record ID: 2366494

  • Title: French army pays tribute to soldier killed in Iraq amid Middle East hostilities
  • Date: 17th March 2026
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MARCH 17, 2026) (AGENCY POOL) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, TAKING SEAT FOR DEFENCE COUNCIL MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "Major Frion died for France in Iraq late last week during a drone attack perpetrated by a pro-Iranian militia, while he was working in the fight against terrorism in the fight against Islam
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: France Iran Middles East United States army drone strike soldiers
  • Location: VARCES-ALLIERES-ET-RISSET AND PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: VARCES-ALLIERES-ET-RISSET AND PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA005490917032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French troops paid homage on Tuesday (March 17) to Major Arnaud Frion, who was killed after an Iran-made drone attack in northern Iraq.
        Six French soldiers providing counter-terrorism training in the region were also wounded in the drone attack on March 12, France's army said, just hours after an Italian base was also targeted in the area.
        France has hundreds of troops based in the Erbil region as part of a broader international coalition to fight Islamic State militants in the area.
        "Major Frion died for France... He was working in the fight against terrorism in the fight against Islamic State, for the defence of Iraqi sovereignty and, by doing so, for our security," President Emmanuel Macron, who was unable to attend the ceremony in southern France, said during a defence council meeting in Paris.
        The attack marked an escalation in the region more than two weeks after the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, triggering a response from Tehran that has targeted countries across the region.
    (Production: Ardee Napolitano)
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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