A soldier from the 8th RPIMa died during operations in Lebanon, victim of an accidental shot. Aged 21, Florian Gillet had served in the Castres regiment since 2024, where he quickly distinguished himself. Here’s everything you need to know about this soldier broke down in the prime of life.Â
The 8th RPIMa was affected by a tragedy and, with it, the entire city of Castres, very attached to its elite regiment. This Wednesday, June 10, Florian Gillet, 21, a 1st class soldier who served in “8”, died in operation while carrying out his mission.
Deployed to Lebanon since June 1, 2026 as an infantry combat assistant monitor, he participated in an operational military partnership mission for the benefit of the Lebanese armed forces within the Saliyeh operational military partnership detachment (DPMO). “During this operation, he was hit by an accidental shot during the preparatory phase of training,” indicates the Ministry of the Armed Forces in a press release. Quickly taken care of by the emergency services present on site, he received first aid before being evacuated to the nearest hospital. “Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries,” the press release said.
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War in the Middle East: a French soldier from the 8th Marine Parachute Regiment from Castres died in Lebanon, hit by an accidental shot
Born on March 1, 2005 in Viriat, in the Ain department, Florian Gillet, single and without children, joined the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment on October 1, 2024 in Castres. As soon as he arrived, he fully invested in his initial general training, then in his technical infantry specialty training, during which he obtained excellent results. Certified paratrooper in 2025, he joined the 4th company as an infantryman. “During his career, he distinguished himself by his commitment, his determination and his excellent state of mind, qualities which earned him the distinction of soldier 1st class on April 1, 2025,” specified his hierarchy.
“So young, it’s terrible”
The Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, said she was “deeply saddened by the accidental death” of the young soldier. And added: “My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones and his brothers in arms.” In his press release, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Air Force General Fabien Mandon, sent his condolences to the family and the military’s loved ones. “His thoughts are with his family, his brothers in arms, as well as all his loved ones,” explained the press release.
“21 years old, an age when one should have life ahead of oneself. He had chosen to serve France, with what that implies of courage, commitment and sense of duty”, was saddened for her part by Carole Delga, who addressed her thoughts “to the family of this young paratrooper, to his relatives and to his brothers weapons.”
The president of the Tarn department, Christophe Ramond, expressed his “deep emotion”. “Florian Gillet accomplished with courage and professionalism the mission entrusted to him. His death is a strong reminder of the daily commitment of our soldiers, sometimes at the risk of their lives, to defend the interests of our country, contribute to international stability and carry the values of France beyond our borders. The 8th RPIMa is a source of pride for our department. With him, today, we are in mourning,” he reacted.
The announcement of the death of this Castres soldier also caused a wave of emotion, particularly in the Tarn sub-prefecture and its region where many former members of the “8” decided to settle after their careers. “So young, it’s terrible,” reacts a woman from Castres. The thoughts of the inhabitants are also necessarily with his family, but also “to his brothers in arms” of the South Tarnais regiment. “May Saint-Michel watch over you, brother,” comments a veteran of the regiment. An accidental death which also raises questions. “How could this happen with all the security measures?” asks this Tarnais man.
The 8th RPIMa and the town of Castres had already been terribly marked on August 18, 2008 when ten French soldiers, including eight from the Castres regiment, died in an ambush set up by the Taliban in the Uzbin valley, in Afghanistan.
