French soldier killed in drone attack in Erbil, Iraq

On March 13, 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Alpine Chasseurs Battalion was killed during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraqi Kurdistan. The incident involved a drone strike on a base used by French forces and Peshmerga troops near Makhmour, southwest of Erbil. According to the French military general staff, six French soldiers were injured in the assault, which occurred on March 12. President Macron condemned the attack, stating that France's involvement in the anti-ISIS coalition since 2015 remains a priority and that the ongoing conflict involving Iran does not justify such actions. While official French sources confirm the death and injuries, other reports from Iraqi sources suggest a French helicopter was struck by suicide drones. Additionally, some reports mentioned separate attacks involving U.S. personnel at Erbil International Airport around the same time. This marks the first combat-related death of a French soldier since the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.