A French soldier was killed in an attack in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday (March 13, 2026), confirming the first French military death in the West Asian war.

Since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran last month engulfed West Asia in war, multiple attacks attributed to pro-Iranian factions have targeted the region where foreign forces are based as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition.

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The member of the armed forces “died for France during an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq,” Mr. Macron posted on X, adding that several soldiers were also wounded.

He did not say who was behind the attack.

The French military said earlier that drones had hit a base where troops were taking part in counter-terrorism training with Iraqi counterparts.

The Governor of Erbil said the strike involved two drones and hit a base in Mala Qara, around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the regional capital.

The French military said on Thursday (March 12) that six people had been wounded in the attack. It was not clear whether the solider who died was among that toll.

“The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks,” Mr. Macron said, calling the strike “unacceptable”.

The soldier’s death follows a separate drone strike on an Italian base in Erbil, within a military compound that was hosting other foreign troops.

No injuries were reported in that attack, but Italy said it was temporarily withdrawing its military personnel from the base.

Soldiers from several countries, including Italy and France, are training members of the Kurdish security forces in Iraqi Kurdistan as part of the anti-jihadist coalition led by Washington.

“Their presence in Iraq is part of the strict framework of the fight against terrorism,” Mr. Macron posted on Friday (March 13), referring to the French troops who had been attacked.

Mr. Macron has insisted that his country’s stance in the West Asian war is “strictly defensive”.

French President Emmanuel Macron posted an AI-generated image on X, showcasing himself standing alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amplifying the close technological partnership between the two countries. President Macron is on a three-day state visit visit to India and is the keynote speaker at the AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Also read | India AI Summit 2026 Day 4 LIVE

Mr. Macron’s post shared on X on Wednesday (February 19, 2026) wrote, “When friends connect, innovation follows. Ready for The AI Impact Summit!”. The picture shows Mr. Macron and Mr. Modi with bright smiles making a heart gesture. The post hinting at France’s active interest in supporting India in the development of AI infrastructure and mechanism has garnered praise from netizens. Two white coffee mugs bearing the symbols of India and France flags are seen to be placed on the table.

In a witty take, Mr. Macron’s photo wrote, “Yes, This Is AI”. The picture has also tagged Mr. Modi, garnering over 28,000 likes and over 1000 comments from social media users.

Macron’s India trip

Earlier in the day, President Macron inaugurated the Franco-Indian Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health, jointly led by AIIMS, Sorbonne University, and the Paris Brain Institute. The health facility at AIIMS is expected to provide quality health service to patients.

Mr. Macron’s nonchalant jog along Marine Drive, south Mumbai’s long coastal promenade, also took the residents by surprise on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). “It sent a positive message about health for the youth, in a city which hosts marathons”, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Mr. Macron paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel, reiterating France’s country’s strong stance against terror. “In the face of terrorism, unity and determination,” he said. Later, Mr. Modi hosted a dinner for the French President. This visit follows the Prime Minister’s visit to France last year, and marked the 20th meeting between the two leaders over the last few years.

Lunch with Hindi film fraternity

Mr. Macron also took a slice of Mumbai’s glamour by joining a lunch meet on Wednesday (February 18, 2026), attended by stalwarts such as Zoya Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Manoj Bajpayee, Anil Kapoor, Kabir Khan, Neeraj Ghaywan, Richa Chadha, and Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej.

Posting the picture on X, Mr. Macron noted “Alongside some legends of Indian cinema Culture brings us together.”

Showering praises towards the French President, Actor Manoj Bajpayee wrote,” It was an honour meeting President Emmanuel Macron at today’s luncheon, along with other dignitaries. What stood out was not just the warmth of the interaction with him, but the clarity and depth of the exchange around cinema, culture, and the role of storytelling in building bridges between countries. Conversations like these, on how India and France can work together more closely in cinema and culture, remind you of how important thoughtful leadership and cultural dialogue are in today’s world”.

Similarly, Anil Kapoor mentioned, “Spent an inspiring afternoon with President Emmanuel Macron and his gracious better half, Brigitte exchanging thoughts on cinema, culture, and the powerful bridge between India and France”.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants his government to fast-track the legal process to ensure that a ban on social media for children under the age of 15 can enter into force in September at the start of the next school year.

In a video released late Saturday (January 24, 2026) by French broadcaster BFM-TV, Mr. Macron said he had asked his government to initiate an accelerated procedure so that the proposed legislation can move as quickly as possible and be passed by the Senate in time.

“The brains of our children and our teenagers are not for sale,” Mr. Macron said. “The emotions of our children and our teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated. Neither by American platforms, nor by Chinese algorithms.”

Mr. Macron’s announcement came just days after the British government said it would consider banning young teenagers from social media as it tightens laws designed to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time.

According to France’s health watchdog, one in two teenagers spends between two and five hours a day on a smartphone. In a report published in December, it said that some 90% of children aged between 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet, with 58% of them using their devices for social networks.

The report highlighted a range of harmful effects stemming from the use of social networks, including reduced self-esteem and increased exposure to content associated with risky behaviours such as self-harm and drug use. Several families in France have sued TikTok over teen deaths they say are linked to harmful content.

Mr. Macron’s office told The Associated Press that the video was addressed to lawmaker Laure Miller, who is sponsoring the bill that will be examined in a public session on Monday (January 26, 2026).

“We are banning social media for under-15s, and we are going to ban mobile phones in our high schools,” Mr. Macron said. “I believe this is a clear rule. Clear for our teenagers, clear for families, clear for teachers, and we are moving forward.”

In Australia, social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16, officials said. The law provoked fraught debates in Australia about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.

​France plans to ban children under 15 from social media ‌sites and to prohibit mobile phones in high schools from ​September 2026, local media reported on Wednesday (December 31, 2025), moves that underscore rising public angst over the impact of online harms on minors.

President Emmanuel Macron has often pointed to social media as one of the factors to blame for violence among young people and has signalled he wants France to follow Australia, whose world-first ban for under-16s on social media platforms including Facebook, ​Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube came into force in December.

His government will ⁠submit draft legislation for legal checks in early January, Le Monde and France Info reported.

Mr. Macron did not reference the legislative push in a New Year’s Eve address but he did ​pledge to “protect our children and teenagers ⁠from social media and screens.”

Earlier, the Elysee and the Prime Minister’s office declined to comment on the media reports.

Mobile phones have been banned in French primary and middle schools since 2018 and the reported ‌new changes would extend that ban to high schools. Pupils aged ‌11 to 15 attend middle schools in the French educational system.

France also passed a law in 2023 requiring social ‍platforms to obtain parental consent for under-15s to create accounts, though technical challenges have impeded its enforcement.

Macron wants more action at European Union level

Mr. Macron said ‍in June he would push for regulation at the level of the European Union to ban access to social media for all under-15s after a fatal stabbing at a school in eastern France shocked the nation. The European Parliament in November urged the EU to set minimum ages for children to access social media to combat a rise in mental health problems among adolescents from excessive exposure, although it is member states which impose age limits. Various other ⁠countries have also taken steps to regulate children’s access to social media.

Mr. Macron heads into the New Year with his domestic ​legacy in tatters after his gamble on parliamentary elections in 2024 led to a ⁠hung parliament, triggering France’s worst political crisis in decades that has seen a succession of weak governments.

However, cracking down further on minors’ access to social media could prove popular, according to opinion polls. A Harris Interactive survey in 2024 showed 73% of those ⁠canvassed supporting a ban on social media access for under-15s. 

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) warned European allies not to trust Russian President Vladimir Putin whom he called “an ogre at our gates”.

Mr. Macron’s remarks came as Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky looked set for a peace summit after fast-moving talks Monday between Donald Trump and European leaders that focused on the key issue of long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.

“Putin has rarely honoured his commitments,” Mr. Macron told the LCI broadcaster. “He has constantly been a force for destabilisation. He has sought to redraw borders to increase his power.”

Mr. Macron said he did not believe that Russia would “return to peace and a democratic system from one day to the next”.

Mr. Putin, “including for his own survival, needs to keep eating”, Mr. Macron said. “That means he is a predator, an ogre at our gates.”

This did not mean that France would “come under attack tomorrow”, Mr. Macron said, “but of course this is a threat to Europe (…) let’s not be naive.”