According to the ESISC, it was an operative from the Service Action (similar to CIA's SAD, IE special operations type), not an analyst or a similar agent.
PARIS, Nov 28 (KUNA) -- A French intelligence operative has been killed in Iraq at a checkpoint near the southern town of Basra, sources at the Defense Ministry confirmed late Monday. The Defense Ministry declined to give any details and the Foreign Intelligence Agency (DGSE) never discusses its operations.
There was no plausible explanation for the presence of the French agent in Iraq as France has few interests there and is not part of the international coalition that is supporting the Iraqi government in its fight against insurgency. Speculation is that the agent was on a mission to protect the French diplomatic contingent in Iraq, but that would not explain his presence in Basra.
French magazine "Le Point" said on its web site that a second intelligence operative has been seriously wounded in the attack.
France's Foreign Ministry also confirmed the death of the agent, saying simply that "a non-commissioned officer of the DGSE was killed by local militia during an inspection in Basra, southern Iraq." |