French soldier killed in Iraq ‘anti-terror’ operation

 

An elite French commando unit member was killed in Iraq on Monday while "supporting an Iraqi unit in an anti-terrorist operation," according to a statement from the office of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Sergeant Nicolas Mazier, an air force paratrooper, died while carrying out his mission. The Elysee Palace, the official residence of the President of the French Republic, said that the French soldier fell in combat while carrying out his mission.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his respect to the soldier for his “sacrifice.” Reportedly, other soldiers from the Iraqi unit in an anti-terrorist operation were also wounded.

Iraqi and French troops were assaulted by militants from the Daesh group, or ISIS, on Monday in the nearby Salah Al-Din province, according to an Iraqi security source in northern Kirkuk.

According to the source, some French troops as well as three members of Iraq’s anti-terrorist forces were injured in a battle of “more than five hours.”

According to media reports and sources, Sergeant Nicolas Mazier is the third French soldier to lose his life this month in Iraq, where the troops form part of Operation Inherent Resolve fight against the Daesh group.

Earlier this month, two men, Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot and Officer Nicolas Latourte, were killed in Iraq. The first incident took place in a traffic accident and the second incident took place during a training exercise.

About 600 French soldiers are participating in the Inherent Resolve operation in the Levant and Gulf region.

Earlier this year, the United States said that the government would remain committed to defeating Daesh and its ideology in Iraq, Syria, and the Middle East region.

Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve, said that the US would confront the threat from the extremist group. 

According to reports and Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, the Peshmerga, a military group that is a part of the autonomous Kurdish administration in northern Iraq, is supported by the US military.