Macron confirms first French soldier killed in war — CWO Arnaud Frion, Erbil drone attack

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X confirming the death of Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion in a drone attack in Erbil, Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. 'A member of the armed forces died for France during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq,' Macron wrote, calling the attack 'unacceptable.' Several other French soldiers were wounded in the attack. The French army said the soldiers had been engaged in training with Iraqi partners when the drone struck. The pro-Iranian Ashab Alkahf group in Iraq later warned that French interests 'in Iraq and the region' would be 'under targeting fire' after the arrival of a French aircraft carrier. The death of CWO Frion marks the first French military fatality of the war — and signals that NATO allies with troops in Iraq are becoming active casualties of Iran-aligned militia operations, raising pressure on France to escalate its response or withdraw personnel.