Nechirvan Barzani calls Macron, condemns attack on French forces

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani called French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday to condemn the drone attack that killed a French soldier and wounded several others at a joint Peshmerga-French base near Makhmur the previous night, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Officer Arnaud Freon became the first French military fatality of the regional war when two drones struck the base on the Mela Qarada axis near Makhmur late Thursday, where French forces have been training Peshmerga fighters as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State. Macron earlier Friday called the strike “absolutely unacceptable,” saying “the war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” and confirmed that several other soldiers were also wounded.

Barzani expressed his condolences and those of the Kurdish people to Macron, the French government and people, and the family and comrades of Freon, saying “our hearts are with them.” He also wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

Barzani thanked France for its support and assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and for the sacrifices of French forces stationed there. He stressed that the Iraqi government must “perform its duty, prevent attacks by those groups, punish them, and thereby prevent Iraq’s interests and its relations with the international community from being endangered.”

Macron thanked Barzani for the call and the solidarity of the Kurdish people, and affirmed that France will continue to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments of the war and its regional consequences, agreeing on the need to intensify efforts to stop the fighting and resolve problems through peaceful means.