Master Sergeant Florian Montorio was killed this Saturday, April 18, in southern Lebanon during an attack on a UNIFIL patrol. Engaged in a mine clearance and route opening mission, the soldier from Montauban was caught in an ambush. Three other soldiers were injured.
The soldier Florian Montorio, chief sergeant and member of the 17th parachute engineering regiment of Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne), died this Saturday, April 18 in the south of Lebanon, in the Deir-Kifa region. He was participating in a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission when he was ambushed.
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DIRECT. War in the Middle East: a French soldier killed “in an ambush” in Lebanon, undoubtedly by Hezbollah according to UNIFIL
He was taking part in an opening mission
In a message published on X, Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces, gives more details on the progress of this operation. The non-commissioned officer was intervening as part of “an opening of a route to a UNIFIL post isolated for several days” due to fighting in the area. According to UNIFIL, he was part of a patrol “responsible for clearing mines from a road in the village of Ghanduriyah”. “The sergeant was ambushed by an armed group at close range.” He was hit at very close range by small arms fire. Despite the intervention of his comrades, who extracted him under fire, he could not be resuscitated.
Master Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment died for France in the Deir-Kifa region of Lebanon.
For 18 years, he had committed himself with strength and determination to serving his country, to defending peace, to fighting terrorism, to protecting his… https://t.co/eWH4kfXjC8— Catherine Vautrin (@CaVautrin) April 18, 2026
Three other French soldiers were injured during the attack and were evacuated, said the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, in a message published on X.
Chief Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of Montauban fell this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL.
Three of his brothers in arms were injured and were evacuated.
The Nation bows with respect…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 18, 2026
France called on the Lebanese authorities to “immediately arrest the culprits” and to “take their responsibilities” alongside UNIFIL. “The Nation bows with respect,” declared Emmanuel Macron, assuring the country’s support to the families of the victims and to all the soldiers engaged in Lebanon.
The peacekeepers targeted by “non-state actors”, probably Hezbollah, according to UNIFIL. Emmanuel Macron asked Lebanon to “guarantee the safety of UNIFIL soldiers” during calls with Lebanon’s president and prime minister.
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