{"id":1897230,"date":"2026-04-22T19:25:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1897230"},"modified":"2026-04-22T19:25:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:25:25","slug":"second-french-peacekeeper-dies-after-ambush-blamed-on-hezbollah-macron-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1897230","title":{"rendered":"Second French peacekeeper dies after ambush blamed on Hezbollah, Macron says"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/18\/86\/1200x675_cmsv2_fd6472c2-4392-5222-bcc8-545ce85ea45c-9731886.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2888168-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2888168\" data-cid=\"9731723\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888168-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/17\/23\/189x106_cmsv2_d1bcd154-33b0-5f9a-81e7-fdd8f35bfe75-9731723.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Chinese artiste Kong Ning wears a costume assembled with dinosaur balloons to commemorate Earth Day in Beijing, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Beijing artist marks World Earth Day with peace installation\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887904-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2887904\" data-cid=\"9731413\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2887904-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/02\/67\/189x106_cmsv2_aab1c6da-d5cf-5fc3-acce-1169a791dc7e-9730267.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pistorius on 16 September 2024 during a visit to the Bundeswehr Artillery School in Idar-Oberstein\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Range, speed, deterrence: Germany unveils first ever military strategy\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885831-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885831\" data-cid=\"9720103\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885831-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/01\/03\/189x106_cmsv2_39825edf-f3ad-5952-8024-b5173d99410c-9720103.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Uzbekistan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Tashkent and Astana deepen strategic ties during Bukhara talks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2888252-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2888252\" data-cid=\"9732212\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888252-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/22\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_64d744c9-9876-59ef-9048-179f2f0f6a7d-9732212.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Thousands of students attend a demonstration in support of public media in Prague, 22 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Czech students protest government plans to cut public media funding\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2888168-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2888168\" data-cid=\"9731723\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888168-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/17\/23\/189x106_cmsv2_d1bcd154-33b0-5f9a-81e7-fdd8f35bfe75-9731723.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Chinese artiste Kong Ning wears a costume assembled with dinosaur balloons to commemorate Earth Day in Beijing, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Beijing artist marks World Earth Day with peace installation\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887904-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2887904\" data-cid=\"9731413\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2887904-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/02\/67\/189x106_cmsv2_aab1c6da-d5cf-5fc3-acce-1169a791dc7e-9730267.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pistorius on 16 September 2024 during a visit to the Bundeswehr Artillery School in Idar-Oberstein\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Range, speed, deterrence: Germany unveils first ever military strategy\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2885831-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2885831\" data-cid=\"9720103\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2885831-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/01\/03\/189x106_cmsv2_39825edf-f3ad-5952-8024-b5173d99410c-9720103.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Uzbekistan<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Tashkent and Astana deepen strategic ties during Bukhara talks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2888252-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2888252\" data-cid=\"9732212\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888252-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/22\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_64d744c9-9876-59ef-9048-179f2f0f6a7d-9732212.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Thousands of students attend a demonstration in support of public media in Prague, 22 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Czech students protest government plans to cut public media funding\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Second French peacekeeper dies after ambush blamed on Hezbollah, Macron says<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative u-max-width-1280 u-margin-x-auto\" data-video='{\"id\":\"xa6dli8\",\"articleId\":2888198,\"title\":\"Second French peacekeeper dies after ambush blamed on Hezbollah, Macron says\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/42\/29\/41\/02\/SHD_PYR_4229412_20260422165854.mp4\",\"programId\":\"europe-news\",\"player\":\"dailymotion\",\"geoBlock\":[\"\"],\"sources\":[],\"description\":\"Established in 1978, UNIFIL has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries who patrol the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel.\",\"isLive\":false,\"articleUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/video\/2026\/04\/22\/second-french-peacekeeper-dies-after-ambush-blamed-on-hezbollah-macron-says\",\"duration\":70840}' data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/18\/86\/1536x864_cmsv2_fd6472c2-4392-5222-bcc8-545ce85ea45c-9731886.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"French UN peacekeepers patrol at the Suluki Valley in south Lebanon, 20 August, 2025\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              French UN peacekeepers patrol at the Suluki Valley in south Lebanon, 20 August, 2025<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspGavin Blackburn&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbsp<b>Matthieu Durand<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1776885925\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-04-22 21:25:25 +02:00\">22\/04\/2026 &#8211; 21:25 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center 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loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-partage-commentaire-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-partage-commentaire-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Established in 1978, UNIFIL has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries who patrol the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>A second French soldier died on Wednesday from wounds suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL) blamed on the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, President Emmanuel Macron said.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A first soldier, staff sergeant Florian Montorio, was shot dead in the Saturday ambush, for which Hezbollah has denied responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Corporal Anicet Girardin&#8230;brought home yesterday from Lebanon, where he was badly wounded by Hezbollah fighters, died this morning of the consequences of his wounds,&#8221; Macron wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>One of three soldiers hurt in the same attack, Girardin, a member of a specialist dog-handling unit, was part of a mission &#8220;to clear a route booby-trapped with an improvised explosive device,&#8221; Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin posted on X.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Coming under sustained fire from concealed Hezbollah fighters at very close range, he moved to aid his section leader who had just fallen, only to be seriously hit in turn,&#8221; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Macron and Vautrin offered their condolences to Girardin&#8217;s family and loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>He is the third French soldier to die since the start of the fighting in the Middle East, after Montorio and the killing of Arnaud Frion last month by an Iranian drone in Iraq&#8217;s Kurdistan region.<\/p>\n<p>Both Macron and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have blamed Iran-backed Hezbollah for the Saturday attack on peacekeepers belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Israel accuses Hezbollah militants of violating ceasefire<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">France&#8217;s president to welcome Lebanon&#8217;s PM amid fragile ceasefire and tensions with Israel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>French soldiers in UNIFIL &#8220;are working bravely and determinedly in service of France and peace in Lebanon,&#8221; Macron wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Established in 1978, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries who patrol the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel, while also engaging in efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two sides.<\/p>\n<p>In August last year, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to terminate the peacekeeping force at the end of 2026, bowing to demands from the United States and its close ally Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-contributors c-article-contributors-supplementary u-margin-top-2 u-padding-top-2\">\n<p>Additional sources<strong> \u2022 AFP<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  UN Security Council to hold emergency session after peacekeeper deaths in Lebanon<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  UN peacekeepers in Lebanon say Israeli drone struck their headquarters but caused no casualties<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Borrell meets UNIFIL chief in Beirut, says peacekeepers have &#8216;strong support&#8217; of EU<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    United Nations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    France<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Unifil<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Emmanuel Macron<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Hezbollah<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Lebanon<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/69\/80\/49\/320x180_cmsv2_d6268ad3-52ac-5dad-a512-91a18ecba4a6-9698049.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hungary's outgoing Minister of Defence Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, right, in a Lynx infantry fighting vehicle \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Exclusive: Hungary&#8217;s new government to review \u20ac16bn EU defence plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2888138-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2888138\" data-cid=\"9731568\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888138-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/15\/68\/320x180_cmsv2_9989022a-5f71-561e-84f9-16e665ed59e4-9731568.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants the vetoes lifted.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU launches procedure to unblock Ukraine loan and Russia sanctions<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2888252-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2888252\" data-cid=\"9732212\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888252-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/22\/12\/320x180_cmsv2_64d744c9-9876-59ef-9048-179f2f0f6a7d-9732212.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Thousands of students attend a demonstration in support of public media in Prague, 22 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Czech students protest government plans to cut public media funding<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2888249-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2888249\" data-cid=\"9732196\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888249-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2888192-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2888192\" data-cid=\"9731822\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2888192-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/69\/80\/49\/320x180_cmsv2_d6268ad3-52ac-5dad-a512-91a18ecba4a6-9698049.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Hungary's outgoing Minister of Defence Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, right, in a Lynx infantry fighting vehicle \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Exclusive: Hungary&#8217;s new government to review \u20ac16bn EU defence plan<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article 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id=\"abe-2888249-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/21\/96\/320x180_cmsv2_89e49f6e-a115-5b71-b154-b5bc4a04d6bb-9732196.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A Spanish flag and a Spanish far-right VOX party flag are waved during the far-right Patriots for Europe summit in Madrid, 8 February, 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain&#8217;s far-right Vox returns to power in regional government<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887904-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887904\" data-cid=\"9731413\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2887904-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/02\/67\/320x180_cmsv2_aab1c6da-d5cf-5fc3-acce-1169a791dc7e-9730267.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pistorius on 16 September 2024 during a visit to the Bundeswehr Artillery School in Idar-Oberstein\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Range, speed, deterrence: Germany unveils first ever military strategy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887464-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887464\" data-cid=\"9728059\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spanish archaeologists find Homer&#8217;s Iliad poem in Egyptian tomb<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887991-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887991\" data-cid=\"9730865\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran seizes two cargo ships in Hormuz after three vessels fired on<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887964-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887964\" data-cid=\"9730620\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    German police launch raids against Syrian trafficking ring<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887941-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887941\" data-cid=\"9730577\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rome summons Russian ambassador over insults against Meloni<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2887966-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2887966\" data-cid=\"9730646\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Israeli army jails soldiers for vandalising Jesus statue in Lebanon<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">A second French soldier died on Wednesday from wounds suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL) blamed on the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, President Emmanuel Macron said.A first soldier, staff sergeant Florian Montorio, was shot dead in the Saturday ambush, for which Hezbollah has denied responsibility.&#8221;Corporal Anicet Girardin&#8230;brought home yesterday from Lebanon, where he was badly wounded by Hezbollah fighters, died this morning of the consequences of his wounds,&#8221; Macron wrote in a post on X.One of three soldiers hurt in the same attack, Girardin, a member of a specialist dog-handling unit,\u00a0was part of a mission &#8220;to clear a route booby-trapped with an improvised explosive device,&#8221; Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin posted on X.&#8221;Coming under sustained fire from concealed Hezbollah fighters at very close range, he moved to aid his section leader who had just fallen, only to be seriously hit in turn,&#8221; she added.Macron and Vautrin offered their condolences to Girardin&#8217;s family and loved ones.He is the third French soldier to die since the start of the fighting in the Middle East, after Montorio and the killing of Arnaud Frion last month by an Iranian drone in Iraq&#8217;s Kurdistan region.Both Macron and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have blamed Iran-backed Hezbollah for the Saturday attack on peacekeepers belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).French soldiers in UNIFIL &#8220;are working bravely and determinedly in service of France and peace in Lebanon,&#8221; Macron wrote.Established in 1978, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has more than 10,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries who patrol the Blue Line, the UN-drawn border between Lebanon and Israel, while also engaging in efforts to de-escalate tensions between the two sides.In August last year, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to terminate the peacekeeping force at the end of 2026, bowing to demands from the United States and its close ally Israel.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/04\/22\/second-french-peacekeeper-dies-after-ambush-blamed-on-hezbollah-macron-says&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/73\/18\/86\/1200x675_cmsv2_fd6472c2-4392-5222-bcc8-545ce85ea45c-9731886.jpg&#8221;] No Comment Beijing artist marks World Earth Day with peace installation Europe News Range, speed, deterrence: Germany unveils first ever military strategy Uzbekistan Tashkent and Astana deepen strategic ties during Bukhara talks Europe News Czech students protest government plans to cut public media funding No Comment Beijing artist marks World Earth Day 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