Jakarta –
A member of an elite French commando unit was killed in Iraq on Monday (28/8) local time while “supporting Iraqi units in an anti-terrorist operation”. French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced the death of the French soldier on Tuesday (29/8).
Sergeant Nicolas Mazier, a member of the Air Force paratroopers, died in combat while carrying out his mission,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement, as reported by the news agency. AFP, Tuesday (29/8/2023). The palace also conveyed Macron’s “deep respect” for his “sacrifice”.
The Elysee Palace said that several other soldiers of the unit were also injured.
An Iraqi security source in Kirkuk, northeastern Iraq said that Iraqi and French troops were attacked by the Islamic State group on Monday evening (28/8) local time in the neighboring province of Salah al-Din.
The source added that in the fighting which lasted “more than five hours”, a number of French soldiers as well as three members of the Iraqi anti-terrorist squad were injured.
Mazier is the third French soldier to lose his life this month in Iraq, where the country’s troops were part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a years-long military operation conducted by the international coalition against the Islamic State group.
Previously, two French soldiers, Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot and officer Nicolas Latourte, were killed in separate incidents this August, the first in a traffic accident and the second during a military exercise.
About 600 French troops based in the Levant and Gulf region are involved in Operation Inherent Resolve.
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(ita/ita)
