2023-08-30 11:46:30
Emmanuel Macron reiterated to Iraq his determination to fight the Islamic State group during an interview with the Iraqi Prime Minister, after the death of three French soldiers during the month of August, the Elysee announced on Wednesday. This telephone interview took place on Tuesday a few hours after the announcement of the death of a member of the French special forces during an anti-jihadist operation in support of the Iraqi army.
The Head of State reiterated to Mohamed Chia al-Soudani “France’s commitment to continue the fight against Daesh, its resolute commitment within the framework of the international coalition, alongside the Iraqi government (…) as well as its support for the Iraqi populations, particularly in the areas liberated from Daesh”, declared the French presidency.
Two other soldiers had been killed in other circumstances during the month of August. According to an Iraqi security source in Kirkuk, Monday evening, a joint operation “Iraqi anti-terrorist forces and soldiers from the French forces stationed in Kirkuk suffered an ambush” by jihadists from the IS group in the al-Aïth desert, bordering the province of Kirkuk. The Arabic acronym Daesh is commonly used by France to refer to the Islamic State group.
Nearly 600 French soldiers deployed in the region
“The Iraqi Prime Minister thanked the President of the Republic for this and paid tribute to the three French soldiers who died in operations in Iraq over the past few days”, underlines the press release from the Elysée.
About 600 French soldiers are deployed in the region as part of Operation Chammal, which includes a training component for Iraqi forces and an air support component for the benefit of the international coalition against the IS group. Ten Rafale and a frigate complete the system. Special forces are also operating in Iraqi Kurdistan and northern Syria.
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