2023-08-21 13:21:34
A second French soldier died in Iraq. After Baptiste Gauchot, who died on August 18 in a road accident, it was Warrant Officer Nicolas Latourte who succumbed in an “operational exercise”, specifies the Elysée. An announcement made this Monday morning by Emmanuel Macron.
In Iraq, they defended our ideals.
A few days after Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot, Warrant Officer Nicolas Latourte lost his life while carrying out his mission.
The Nation joins in the immense pain of their families and brothers in arms of the 19th and 6th engineer regiments.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 21, 2023
Nicolas Latourte belonged to the 6th engineer regiment in Iraq. “He was on an Iraqi army training mission. To tirelessly fight against terrorism”, indicates the Minister of Defense Sébastien Lecornu, “deeply saddened” by this death. The soldier was taking part in Operation Chammal, the French component of the operation of the international coalition Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State group, created in 2014.
Deeply saddened by the death of Warrant Officer Nicolas Latourte of the 6th Engineer Regiment yesterday in Iraq.
He was on an Iraqi army training mission. To tirelessly fight against terrorism.
I extend my condolences to his family and to his brothers in arms. pic.twitter.com/twY83peorH
— Sebastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) August 21, 2023
No more ground operations have been carried out by the coalition since January 2022, the ministry’s website also specifies. Some 600 French soldiers are currently deployed there. The mission currently focuses on “military air and sea support to the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)” as well as advising the Iraqi Armed Forces.
The death of Nicolas Latourte comes just three days after the death of Baptiste Gauchot, who was also taking part “in a mission to instruct the Iraqi armed forces”. The latter had been deployed in external operations since May 2023 as part of Operation Chammal Il, “contributed to the training of our Iraqi partners in the areas of infantry combat and combat first aid”, specified the Ministry of the Armed Forces. last week.
Despite rapid treatment and while undergoing emergency surgery at Erbil hospital in Iraq, he succumbed to his injuries. Another soldier who was at his side was seriously injured and treated in a military hospital in Baghdad.
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