Macron: France’s presence in Iraq is "defensive" after drone attack on troops

French President Emmanuel Macron said France’s military presence in Iraq is “defensive” after a drone attack in the country’s north killed one French soldier and wounded six others.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Macron condemned the strike, describing it as “unacceptable," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The French leader said he had ordered a full military assessment of the incident.

The attack took place on March 12, when French troops stationed in northern Iraq were struck by a drone. The soldiers were in the country to provide counterterrorism training as part of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

The strike occurred just hours after an Italian base in the same area was also targeted.

Earlier, the pro-Iranian Iraqi Shiite armed group Ashab al-Kahf threatened to target French interests in Iraq and elsewhere in the region following the arrival of a French aircraft carrier in the operational area of the United States Central Command.

By Sabina Mammadli