President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced on Tuesday that a French special forces soldier lost his life during an anti-terrorist operation in Iraq, marking the third French casualty in Operation Chammal within this month.

Sergeant Nicolas Mazier, an Air Force paratrooper, “fell in combat while fulfilling his mission,” stated the Élysée presidential palace in an official release.

President Macron conveyed his condolences to the family and colleagues of Sergeant Mazier in a Twitter message posted on the platform X.

“Sergeant Nicolas Mazier was bravely defending France and our security. His sacrifice in Iraq is mourned by the entire nation,” stated President Macron, highlighting the commitment and dedication of the fallen soldier.

Macron extended his “heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones and pledged the solidarity of the Nation in these painful times.”

The incident occurred during a joint operation by Iraqi counter-terrorism troops and French special forces stationed at the K1 base in Kirkuk, according to an Iraqi security source. They were ambushed by militants from the Islamic State (IS) group, resulting in a prolonged battle lasting over five hours. A number of French troops and three members of Iraq’s anti-terrorist forces were wounded during the clash.

Tragically, this marks the third loss of a French soldier in Iraq recently. Earlier, French military trainer Nicolas Latourte died while on a training mission for urban combat alongside Iraqi troops. Another soldier, Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot, died in a road accident on August 18.

Approximately 600 French troops are currently deployed in the region as part of Operation Chammal, the French military campaign against the IS group in Iraq and Syria. President Macron paid tribute to the valor of the French soldiers and reaffirmed France’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism alongside Iraq.

Source: with agencies