Macron: France’s role in Middle East remains ‘purely defensive’ despite soldier’s death

(Clea Caulcutt – Politico) French President Emmanuel Macron insisted Friday that France’s role in the Middle East would remain defensive after a French soldier was killed in a drone attack in Iraq. “France’s position is purely defensive, in support of its allies, and can in no way justify any attack against it,” Macron said in a press conference standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Paris to discuss support for Kyiv. Overnight Thursday into Friday, a French soldier was killed and several others were wounded in a strike on troops participating in a counterterrorism training exercise in northern Iraq. – Macron: France’s role in Middle East remains ‘purely defensive’ despite soldier’s death – POLITICO