In southern France, between June 18 and July 1, 2025, the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) hosted the eighth edition of the Indo-French joint military exercise, Shakti 2025, to enhance bilateral military cooperation.
13e DBLE: 3e CIE in New Caledonia in 2025
The 3rd Company of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) has been deployed in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, since April 2025. The Short-Term Mission (Mission de Courte Durée, MCD), which usually lasts four months, focuses on maintaining order and security in the region. The company has temporarily reinforced the New Caledonia Pacific Marine Infantry Regiment (RIMaP-NC).
Foreign Legion: 2025 Camerone Day
April 30, 2025, marked the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the defining event in the French Foreign Legion’s history, when 62 legionnaires under the command of Captain Jean Danjou faced a force of 2,000 Mexican troops. Refusing to surrender, they fought to the very end, with only three able-bodied legionnaires left standing. Commemorations of this anniversary were held across all Legion units and garrisons, both in France and abroad. The following post includes images from several of these ceremonies.
13e DBLE: Joint Exercise with the Spanish Legion in 2025
In early April 2025, the 4th Company and the HQ Company elements of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) took part in an intensive joint exercise with the 2nd Company of the 10th Battalion (X Bandera “Millán Astray”), 4th Regiment of the Spanish Legion. The exercise was held at Camp Álvarez de Sotomayor near Almería, Spain, a military training area equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for urban warfare simulations.
Read more13e DBLE: Joint Exercise with the Spanish Legion in 2025
PHOTOS: 3rd Company 13e DBLE in French Indochina in 1946
A new part of the PHOTOS series. See rare photos showing legionnaires of the 3rd Company, 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) during 1946, the first year of their deployment to French Indochina.
Read morePHOTOS: 3rd Company 13e DBLE in French Indochina in 1946
13e DBLE: Exercise Gevaudan 2025
From February 3 to 13, 2025, the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) organized Exercise Gevaudan 2025 (Gévaudan 25) in the Gevaudan region in southern France.
13e DBLE: 2024 Deployment to Réunion
In November 2024, elements of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) deployed to Réunion. It is an island in the Indian Ocean, located east of Madagascar, and an overseas department of France. The legionnaires will remain there for the next four months.
13e DBLE: 2024 Heavy Mortar Platoon
Recently, a 120 mm heavy mortar platoon was formed within the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE). In November 2024, the platoon took part in a military exercise.
Foreign Legion: 2024 SAED Presentation
Watch a nice presentation of a SAED commando-like platoon of the French Foreign Legion. A combat support platoon, it is still a relatively little-known unit among Foreign Legion enthusiasts. You’ll learn more about the platoon in this article.
13e DBLE: Exercise Shakti 2024 in India
Earlier this year, legionnaires from the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) participated in a joint military exercise in India, Shakti 2024. See some images.
1er REG, 13e DBLE: Protecting the Seine River during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
Legionnaires from the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG) and the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13e DBLE) were tasked with the protection of the Seine River during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. See some images.