6 French Soldiers Injured in Drone Attack Targeting Military Base South of Erbil

The French Army General Staff announced that six of its soldiers were injured in a drone attack targeting a military site in the Erbil region of Iraqi Kurdistan. Military sources clarified that the injured soldiers were carrying out joint training missions with Iraqi forces as part of counter-terrorism efforts, and they were urgently transferred to nearby medical facilities for necessary care.

According to field data provided by the Governor of Erbil, the aerial attack was carried out by two suicide drones, targeting a military base located in the 'Mahla Qahra' area. This base is approximately 40 kilometers southwest of the regional capital and is considered one of the sites where international forces operating in Iraq conduct advisory and training activities.

This field escalation comes shortly after a similar incident targeted an Italian military base located within a security complex that includes units of various foreign nationalities in Erbil. Although the previous attack did not result in casualties or human injuries, it raised widespread security concerns among the command of international forces present in the region.

In a swift reaction to the repeated targeting, Italian authorities announced their decision to temporarily withdraw all their military personnel from the targeted base to ensure their safety. These forces, including French and Italian units, have been present in Iraqi Kurdistan since 2014, with their missions focused on providing logistical and training support to local security forces within the international coalition to confront ISIS.

The region is experiencing a state of increasing security tension, as Iraqi Kurdistan has been subjected to a series of similar attacks attributed to armed factions active in the Iraqi arena. These developments coincide with broader regional unrest, placing foreign forces and military facilities in the region under constant threat from drone and missile attacks.

The injured soldiers were participating in counter-terrorism training with Iraqi partners and were immediately transferred to the nearest medical center for treatment.