HIGHMILITARY
Six French troops wounded in drone attack on Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
·Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan
A drone attack wounded six French soldiers in Erbil, Iraq. The troops were engaged in counterterrorism training activities with Iraqi partners when struck. All six were taken to the nearest medical facility. This is a separate incident from the earlier US/UK Erbil base attack and represents France's first confirmed casualties in the conflict.
Six French soldiers were wounded in a drone attack in Erbil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on Thursday evening March 12. A French military spokesman told AFP the troops "were engaged in training activities on counterterrorism with Iraqi partners" when the attack occurred. The six wounded soldiers were taken to the nearest medical facility. This incident is distinct from the earlier attack on the Erbil base that wounded US troops — French forces were specifically targeted or caught in a separate drone strike. France has not been a direct party to the US-Israeli air campaign against Iran, making this the first confirmed French military casualties of the war and a potential escalation into NATO member state involvement.
Actor responses
French military: 6 soldiers wounded in Erbil drone attack during counterterrorism training with Iraqi partners. Taken to medical facility. France's first confirmed war casualties.
Drone attack wounds 6 French troops in Erbil — France's first casualties of the conflict. PMF/Iran-aligned drones continuing attacks on Western forces in Iraq.