Macron said on the social media platform X that he had spoken with Iraq’s prime minister a day after the attack and welcomed Baghdad’s commitment to investigate the incident and strengthen protection for foreign forces stationed in the country.

“Yesterday, I spoke with the Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani,” Macron wrote. “I thank him for his commitment to getting to the bottom of this attack and to strengthening measures to protect our forces, who are present in Iraq to fight, alongside the Iraqis, against the scourge of terrorism.”

French forces are deployed in Iraq as part of international efforts supporting Iraqi security forces in combating militant groups.

In a separate message on Saturday, Macron said France was ready to facilitate ceasefire discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Paris, signalling diplomatic engagement as tensions between Israel and the Iran-aligned Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to escalate.

Macron said Lebanese leaders were open to direct discussions with Israel and urged Israel to “seize this opportunity to launch ceasefire discussions, to find a lasting solution and to allow the Lebanese authorities to put in place their engagements for Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

The French president called on Israel to halt its offensive and urged Hezbollah to stop its actions, warning that continued hostilities risk pushing Lebanon into deeper instability.

“Everything must be done to stop Lebanon from descending into chaos,” Macron said.

France has historically maintained close political and economic ties with Lebanon and has frequently positioned itself as a diplomatic intermediary in crises involving the Mediterranean state.

The ministry initially described the incident as a missile attack on the base but later said the strike appeared to involve a drone. Officials said the unmanned aircraft may have struck the facility accidentally after losing altitude rather than intentionally targeting the base.

“There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine,” the ministry said in a statement posted shortly after midnight on the social media platform X.

Col. Stefano Pizzotti, the base commander, told Sky TG24 that troops had been warned of possible aerial threats hours before the incident and had taken shelter in bunkers ahead of the strike.

Pizzotti said it remained unclear where the strike originated. He added that although the air raid alert had ended, specialists were continuing to inspect and secure the area.

Italy maintains around 300 troops in Irbil tasked with training Kurdish security forces, according to information published by the defence ministry.

Pizzotti said troop numbers at the base had recently been reduced because of heightened security risks linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran in the wider region.