A drone strike on Thursday evening killed 42-year-old French officer Arnaud Frion at the Mala Qara Kurdish base near Erbil, raising concerns over the risks of France’s involvement in the U.S.-led conflict against Iran. The attack highlights growing opposition to Western military presence in Iraq.

On Friday, the Iraqi Ashab al-Kahf resistance group issued a statement warning that all French interests in Iraq and the region, including troops and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, would now be considered targets. While not claiming responsibility for the strike, the group condemned European participation in the ongoing war, saying any involvement would make foreign forces “enemies of Iraqi and regional sanctities.”

“Any country that joins this war risks retaliation,” the group said, signaling that attacks on French personnel and assets could continue. The warning underscores the mounting tensions surrounding Western military presence in Iraq and the broader Middle East.