In March 2020, a three-week military operation to search and neutralize terrorist elements took place in the three-border area of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Two Foreign Legion task forces were involved in the operation in this deserted land.
1er REC: Neutralisation of two terrorists during Operation Barkhane in Mali
On 4 March 2020, during anti-terrorist Operation Barkhane in Mali (West Africa), a reconnaissance group of the 2nd Squadron, 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) got contact with two armed terrorist group members and neutralized them. The action was captured by reporters from Paris Match, a popular French newspaper. See video.
Read more1er REC: Neutralisation of two terrorists during Operation Barkhane in Mali
Foreign Legion: Abdominal exercises with Major Gérald
Watch another useful video published by the official French Foreign Legion channel on YouTube to improve your core strength. This video is dedicated to simple and effective physical training techniques for developing your abdominal muscles. They are, as always, presented by Major Gérald (the most senior warrant officer), the head of the Sports Office of the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE), the Legion’s HQ.
Read moreForeign Legion: Abdominal exercises with Major Gérald
Warning: Recruitment suspended!
Today, on 17 March 2020, the recruitment of candidates for the French Foreign Legion was suspended until further notice due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
66 years ago: A major confrontation with the Viet Minh began
66 years ago, on 13 March 1954, a major confrontation between French troops and the Viet Minh movement began in then French Indochina. The confrontation transformed into a two-month bloody battle that occurred in a remote valley of Dien Bien Phu, situated in northeastern Vietnam. The battle started by a furious assault on a defensive position held by a Foreign Legion battalion. After several hours of severe fighting, the position is overrun… For those interested in this famous battle, see the well-ordered article supplemented with many images and additional information.
Read more66 years ago: A major confrontation with the Viet Minh began
2e REP: A South African fighting in Mali
In January 2020, several companies of the Foreign Legion’s 2e REP arrived in Africa’s Sahel region to reinforce French troops in their fight against local terrorist groups. Between these paratroopers, a legionnaire from South Africa.
189 years ago: Foreign Legion was born
A royal ordinance of Louis Philippe I, King of the French, was issued 189 years ago, on 10 March 1831. That ordinance ordered the formation of a Foreign Legion with the aim of engaging foreign deserters asking to serve France and, too, foreign soldiers of then the freshly disbanded Hohenlohe Regiment (ex-Hohenlohe Legion or Royal Legion). Until the 2000s, the 10th of March 1831 had marked the official birthday of the current French Foreign Legion which derived its origin from that original 1831 Legion. Nevertheless, the lineage of the current Legion is far more complex. See a more detailed article.
13e DBLE: 2nd Company in Djibouti 2020
As the other regiments of the French Foreign Legion in 2020, even the 13th Foreign Legion Half Brigade (13e DBLE) have deployed several of its companies overseas, including the “Cheetahs” of the 2nd Combat Company. The latter returned back to the former homeland of the 13e DBLE, Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. See some images.