War in the Middle East: “Ambush”, shots at “very short distance”… What we know about the death of a French soldier in Lebanon

France mourns another of its soldiers. Florian Montorio, chief sergeant of the 17th parachute engineering regiment of Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne), died this Saturday morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) – the UN force in Lebanon to which France contributes -, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron announced on X. Three other soldiers “are injured and have been evacuated,” added the head of state.

What happened?

In another message on X, the Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin provided some details on the facts. According to her, Florian Montorio died “in the Deir-Kifa region in Lebanon”. “This morning, while he was on a mission to open a route to a UNIFIL post isolated for several days by fighting in the area, he was ambushed by an armed group at very close range,” she said. He was “immediately hit by direct fire from a light weapon” before being “relieved under fire by his comrades, who were unable to resuscitate him”.

According to Catherine Vautrin, Florian Montorio was “committed with strength and determination to serving his country, to defending peace, to fighting terrorism, to protecting his compatriots” for 18 years. “An experienced non-commissioned officer, already deployed several times in operations, Master Sergeant Florian Montorio inspires respect and admiration through his career, his personality, his courage,” she wrote.

Who is responsible for the attack?

Nothing is certain at this stage. But according to Emmanuel Macron, “everything suggests that the responsibility for this attack lies with Lebanese Hezbollah”. “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the culprits and take responsibility alongside UNIFIL,” continued the head of state.

What are the reactions?

“The Nation bows with respect and extends its support to the families of our soldiers and to all our soldiers committed to peace in Lebanon,” Emmanuel Macron also declared. “Today, the Nation bows before the memory of one of its sons who gave his life for it. My thoughts are with his partner, his children, his loved ones and his brothers in arms. France will not forget,” pays tribute to Catherine Vautrin.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attack on French peacekeepers and promised to prosecute those responsible.

“The nation pays tribute to Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio, who died in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL. I think of his loved ones and his brothers in arms injured during this criminal attack which cannot go unpunished. Our soldiers are the honor of France,” reacted for his part on Place Publique MEP Raphaël Glucksmann.