National tribute to Florian Montorio: He pursued the noblest mission, working for peace in the midst of tensions praises the Minister of the Armed Forces

The national tribute ceremony for Florian Montorio, a peacekeeper serving in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon who was killed on Saturday, April 18, took place on Thursday, April 23, in Montauban, France. The ceremony, led by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, and the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Pierre Schill, began at 11:30 am. The honors were given at the Doumerc barracks under sunny skies.

At 40 years old, the father of two daughters aged 9 and 15 had been part of the 17th Parachute Engineering Regiment (RGP) in Montauban since 2021. This regiment specializes in parachute missions to support ground forces in operational areas.

Florian Montorio had participated in various operations, including in Mali, Iraq, and Niger. He was tragically killed by direct gunfire in the region of Deir-Kifa in South Lebanon. Minister Vautrin highlighted Montorio’s dedication to peacekeeping despite the dangers he faced.

Posthumously, Montorio was awarded the Cross of Military Valor, the Military Medal, and was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor for his service. Following the ceremony, a silent march was held through the town to honor the fallen peacekeeper, where residents lined the streets to pay their respects.

Another French soldier, Corporal-Chef Anicet Girardin, who was injured in the same incident that claimed Montorio’s life, also passed away. This brings the total French military casualties in the conflict in the Middle East to three. Girardin will also receive a tribute ceremony. Speaking about Girardin, Minister Vautrin expressed her condolences for his sacrifice in trying to rescue his fallen colleague.

In an interview with Franceinfo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, condemned the targeting of identified peacekeepers as a war crime, attributing responsibility for the attack to the Hezbollah group. The incident has further highlighted the dangers faced by peacekeepers in conflict zones.

(AFP)