From May 11 to 20, 2026, Exercise Libecciu 2026 took place across several regions of western and central France, primarily in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Centre-Val de Loire. The exrcise was conducted by the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP), an elite airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion. Based at Calvi, Corsica, it serves as one of the French Army’s rapid-response units.
Foreign Legion: 2026 Victory in Europe Day
On May 8, 2026, French Foreign Legion units commemorated the 81st anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, marking the definitive overall surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces in 1945. As every year, legionnaires took part in ceremonies held both in France and overseas to honor the veterans and fallen soldiers of the conflict.
Foreign Legion: 2026 Camerone Day
On April 30, 2026, the French Foreign Legion observed the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Camerone, the legendary action that forged the Legion’s identity and esprit de corps. On that day in Mexico in 1863, a company of 62 legionnaires led by Captain Jean Danjou stood against some 2,000 Mexican soldiers. The legionnaires refused to surrender and fought until only three of them remained standing. As every year, the anniversary was commemorated across all Legion units and garrisons, in France and abroad. Below are images from several of these ceremonies.
55 Years Ago: A Campaign Ended in Africa
55 years ago, in late 1970, the last men of the French Foreign Legion returned from Central Africa, where they had been deployed as part of Operation Limousin in Chad – the first French operation of this scale since the end of the Algerian War. For the Legion, playing the leading role, it confirmed its ability to conduct prolonged interventions far from its bases, under demanding conditions and with limited resources. This website is the first medium, in France and beyond, to offer a complete and detailed study of the Legion’s involvement in this campaign.
2e REP: 3rd Company in New Caledonia from 2025 to 2026
Since October 2025, the 3rd Company of the French Foreign Legion’s 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) has been deployed to New Caledonia, a French overseas territory in the Pacific, on a Short-Term Mission (Mission de Courte Durée, MCD).
Read more2e REP: 3rd Company in New Caledonia from 2025 to 2026
50 Years Ago: The Foreign Legion’s First Counterterrorism Operation
In early February 1976, two French Foreign Legion units participated in an counterterrorism operation to rescue 31 French children kidnapped by Somali militants in the Horn of Africa. The extraordinary operation constitutes a significant episode in the history of the French Foreign Legion.
Read more50 Years Ago: The Foreign Legion’s First Counterterrorism Operation
Foreign Legion: 2025 Christmas Challenges
In mid-December 2025, a series of Challenges de Noël (Christmas Challenges) took place in regiments of the French Foreign Legion, both in France and abroad. These anual events are friendly competitions between companies of the same regiment. They are not about winning alone, but about building fighting spirit, teamwork, and unit cohesion. For hard-working legionnaires, the challenges also bring a moment of fun and relaxation. They are usually organized shortly before Christmas.
2e REP: First Serval armored vehicles
In Corsica in late November 2025, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) received its first Serval light armored vehicles. The Legion paratroopers have started technical and tactical training to learn how to integrate this new equipment, which will replace the older VAB (Armored Vanguard Vehicle) that has been in service since the late 1970s.
Foreign Legion: 2025 Armistice Day
On November 11, 2025, detachments of the French Foreign Legion participated in ceremonies marking Armistice Day, honoring the memory of military veterans and those who died in the line of duty.
2e REP: Exercise Vent d’Automne 2025
From October 19 to 30, 2025, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) of the French Foreign Legion conducted Exercise Vent d’Automne (Autumn Wind) in Corsica. This annual training aims to enhance combat readiness and interoperability in realistic coastal and urban environments.
2e REP: 2025 Saint Michael’s Day
On September 21, 2025, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) of the French Foreign Legion commemorated Saint Michael the Archangel, their patron saint, at Camp Raffalli in Calvi, Corsica. The celebration, held a week earlier than usual, featured a formal military ceremony.