( CNN ) -- French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet traveled to Afghanistan to discuss security with local authorities , a spokesman said Saturday , a day after Allied forces suffered heavy losses in the country . A helicopter crash killed six U.S. Marines and a separate attack killed four French soldiers Friday , prompting Paris to consider an early troop withdrawal . `` If France does not manage to find a solution with the Afghan authorities to ensure better security of the French soldiers , then we will seriously question our military presence in the country . It is too early to speculate what actions would be taken . The minister will return when he feels he has the information and assurances he is looking for , '' said Col. Thierry Burkhard , spokesman for the defense ministry . President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he was suspending French training operations and combat help as a result of the attack , which injured 15 others . `` The French army is not in Afghanistan to be shot at by Afghan soldiers , '' he said . France could bring its troops back early from Afghanistan if the necessary security is not restored , Sarkozy said . France has 3,935 troops in Afghanistan , according NATO 's International Security Assistance Force . The attack in eastern Afghanistan followed a similar shooting last month by an Afghan soldier that killed two French soldiers serving in an engineers ' regiment . Also Saturday , the U.S. Department of Defense identified six Marines who were killed in Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed . Jesse W. Stites , 23 ; Kevin J. Reinhard , 25 ; and Joseph D. Logan , 22 , were all Marine corporals . They hailed from North Beach , Maryland ; Colonia , New Jersey ; and Willis , Texas , respectively . Master Sgt . Travis W. Riddick , 40 , of Centerville , Iowa , also lost his life . Two officers were also aboard the CH-53 helicopter : Capt . Daniel D. Bartle , 27 , of Ferndale , Washington ; and Capt . Nathan R. McHone , 29 , of Crystal Lake , Illinois . They were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 , Marine Aircraft Group 24 , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , III Marine Expeditionary Force , Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii . The NATO-led force reported no enemy activity in the area of Friday 's crash , but the Taliban claimed credit for bringing down the chopper . NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen paid tribute to those killed and injured Friday , saying it was a `` very sad day '' for ISAF troops in Afghanistan and for France . `` Such tragic incidents are terrible and grab headlines , but they are isolated , '' he said . `` The reality is that every day , 130,000 ISAF troops from 50 nations fight and train with over 300,000 Afghan soldiers . That takes a lot of trust among a lot of soldiers . `` We have the same goal . An Afghanistan that is responsible for its own security . That is what Afghans want . And we remain committed to helping Afghans . '' CNN 's Niki Cook contributed to this report .
NEW : Two French soldiers were killed in eastern Afghanistan on Friday . France : France will pull its troops back early if security is not restored . The U.S. Defense Department reported six killed Marines . Their plane crashed in Afghanistan , also on Friday .