A French soldier was killed in a road accident in Iraq, where he “was taking part in an Iraqi armed forces training mission”, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday evening. The Head of State “learned today with great emotion of the death in Iraq in a traffic accident of Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot, of the 19th Engineer Regiment”, announced a press release from the Elysée.
“The Head of State reaffirms his support for the Iraqi people and authorities and France’s determination to continue to work alongside them for the instruction of their security forces who are fighting against terrorism”. Initially, the Ministry of the Armed Forces had specified that the sergeant had been “very seriously injured when his vehicle left the road”.
Deep emotion at the announcement of the death of Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot, who died today in Iraq in a traffic accident during a training mission for the benefit of the Iraqi army. France joins the pain of his family and his brothers in arms of the @RG_19e. pic.twitter.com/7kbN1VQ6Xo
“He was rushed to Erbil Hospital and succumbed to his injuries. His comrade, seriously injured, is being cared for in a military hospital in Baghdad,” the ministry statement added. Sergeant Baptiste Gauchot had been on overseas operations since May 2023. Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu expressed on X (formerly Twitter) his “strong emotion”, adding that France joined in the pain of his family and his brothers. weapons.