A French soldier who was participating in a mission to support the Lebanese Army dies from an “accidental shooting”

The French Army announced this Wednesday the death of a 21-year-old soldier due to an “accidental shooting” while participating in a mission to support the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The Chief of Staff of the Army, Pierre Schill, has confirmed on his social networks that Private “First Class” Florian Gillet has died during the day after being “hit by an accidental shot during preparations for a training exercise” in support of the Lebanese troops and has conveyed his condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the French Army.

Gillet had been in Lebanon for only ten days and was collaborating with the Lebanese Army “as an assistant infantry combat instructor.” In particular, he had been deployed “in the operational military collaboration detachment (of Saliyé), a municipality located near the city of Sidon and about 45 kilometers from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, as indicated by the French Army.