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France's position in Middle East is defensive, Macron says, after attack on its soldiers

Gonzalo Fuentes
Gonzalo Fuentes
Mar 13, 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron chairs a video conference of G7 leaders to discuss the fallout of the war in Iran on the world economy, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
French President Emmanuel Macron chairs a video conference of G7 leaders to discuss the fallout of the war in Iran on the world economy, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — Gonzalo Fuentes

PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday a drone attack in Northern Iraq against French soldiers was "unacceptable" and that France's position in the region was "defensive".

Macron told a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris that he had asked for a full military analysis to be made of the attack.

One French soldier was killed and six others were wounded after a drone attack in northern Iraq that President Emmanuel Macron earlier had said was said was unacceptable and unjustified.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Sudip Kar-Gupta, editing by Inti Landauro)