France's position in Middle East is defensive, Macron says, after attack on its soldiers

French President Emmanuel Macron chairs a video conference of G7 leaders to discuss the fallout of the war in Iran on the world economy, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, March 11, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

PARIS, March ⁠13 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel ⁠Macron said on Friday ‌a drone attack in Northern Iraq against French soldiers ​was "unacceptable" and that ⁠France's position ⁠in the region was "defensive".

Macron told ⁠a ‌news conference with Ukrainian ⁠President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris ​that ‌he had asked for ⁠a ​full military analysis to be made of ⁠the attack.

One French soldier ​was killed and six others were wounded after ⁠a drone attack in northern Iraq that President Emmanuel Macron earlier ​had ⁠said was said was ​unacceptable and unjustified.

(Reporting ‌by Dominique Vidalon, ​Sudip Kar-Gupta, editing by Inti Landauro)