Is French President Emmanuel Macron facing a rebellion from his military? Another open letter has been published. It warns that France is on the brink of collapse and accuses the Macron government of trying to silence warnings of civil war. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Is the French military rebelling against Macron?

A group of serving French soldiers has published an open letter in a conservative magazine warning President Emmanuel Macron that the 'survival' of France is at stake because he has made 'concessions' to Islamism.

Macron warned over France's 'survival' by soldiers through an open letter

Eighteen French soldiers will face a military court for signing an open letter warning of a&nbsp;“civil war” in the country due to religious extremism.

The letter pinned the blame on “fanatic partisans” for creating divisions between communities while alleging that Islamists have taken over whole parts of France.

According to&nbsp;François Lecointre, the armed forces' chief&nbsp;of staff, the soldiers could be&nbsp;“de-listed” or&nbsp;“put into immediate retirement”.

The letter said, “The hour is grave, France is in peril” and was published in a right-wing magazine on the 60th anniversary of a failed coup on April 21.

Florence Parly, the minister in charge of the French armed forces hit out at the letter, claiming that the military ought to be neutral and loyal.

"Two immutable principles guide the action of members of the military with regard to politics: neutrality and loyalty”, Parly tweeted.

Punishments underway

She also said that any signatories that still serve in the military would face punishment for defying the law which mandates soldiers to remain politically neutral.

"For who have violated the duty of reserve, sanctions are planned, and if there are active soldiers among the signatories, I asked the chief of staff of the armed forces to apply the rules... that is to say, sanctions,” she told radio network France Info on Monday.

The letter warned French President Macron and his government of “several deadly dangers” that currently threaten France. These include “Islamism and the hordes of banlieue”, which are suburban towns mostly comprising immigrations that have popped up around French cities.

"It is no longer the time to procrastinate, otherwise tomorrow civil war will put an end to this growing chaos and deaths - for which you will be responsible - with numbers in the thousands," the letter added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Eighteen French soldiers will face a military court for signing an open letter warning of a “civil war” in the country due to religious extremism. The letter pinned the blame on “fanatic partisans” for creating divisions between communities while alleging that Islamists have taken over whole parts of France.

Eighteen French soldiers will face a military court for signing an open letter warning of a “civil war” in the country due to religious extremism. The letter pinned the blame on “fanatic partisans” for creating divisions between communities while alleging that Islamists have taken over whole parts of France. According to François Lecointre, the armed forces' chief of staff, the soldiers could be “de-listed” or “put into immediate retirement”. The letter said, “The hour is grave, France is in peril” and was published in a right-wing magazine on the 60th anniversary of a failed coup on April 21. Florence Parly, the minister in charge of the French armed forces hit out at the letter, claiming that the military ought to be neutral and loyal. "Two immutable principles guide the action of members of the military with regard to politics: neutrality and loyalty”, Parly tweeted. Punishments underway She also said that any signatories that still serve in the military would face punishment for defying the law which mandates soldiers to remain politically neutral. "For who have violated the duty of reserve, sanctions are planned, and if there are active soldiers among the signatories, I asked the chief of staff of the armed forces to apply the rules... that is to say, sanctions,” she told radio network France Info on Monday. The letter warned French President Macron and his government of “several deadly dangers” that currently threaten France. These include “Islamism and the hordes of banlieue”, which are suburban towns mostly comprising immigrations that have popped up around French cities. "It is no longer the time to procrastinate, otherwise tomorrow civil war will put an end to this growing chaos and deaths - for which you will be responsible - with numbers in the thousands," the letter added. (With inputs from agencies)

French soldiers to face military sanctions over warning of 'civil war'

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday.

President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement.

He affirmed France's determination to continue its role in "the battle against terrorism" after the attack.

Huynh, aged 33, was the first female soldier killed in the Sahel region since the French operation began.

Another soldier was wounded in the blast but their life is not in danger.

Notably, a total of 50 French soldiers have been killed since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back jihadist forces in Mali.

Less than a week ago three French soldiers were killed in Mali also by an improvised explosive device during a mission in the southern region of Hombori.

Al Qaeda's North Africa wing has said it was responsible for that attack, jihadist monitoring organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday.

SITE Intel said on Twitter Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso, had said it was responsible for the attack.

The soldiers in both cases were part of France’s Barkhane military operations in Mali against Islamic fighters.

France's Barkhane force numbers 5,100 troops spread across the arid Sahel region and has been fighting jihadist groups alongside soldiers from Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who together make up the G5 Sahel group.

The group, the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel, cited a string of reasons for Saturday's attack including the continuing French military presence in the region, cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by a French newspaper and Macron's defence of them in the name of freedom of expression.

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement.

Two French soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in northeastern Mali on Saturday. President Emmanuel Macron "learnt with great sadness" of the deaths of Sergeant Yvonne Huynh and Brigadier Loic Risser in the Menaka region, his office said in a statement. He affirmed France's determination to continue its role in "the battle against terrorism" after the attack. Huynh, aged 33, was the first female soldier killed in the Sahel region since the French operation began. Another soldier was wounded in the blast but their life is not in danger. Notably, a total of 50 French soldiers have been killed since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back jihadist forces in Mali. Less than a week ago three French soldiers were killed in Mali also by an improvised explosive device during a mission in the southern region of Hombori. Al Qaeda's North Africa wing has said it was responsible for that attack, jihadist monitoring organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday. SITE Intel said on Twitter Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso, had said it was responsible for the attack. The soldiers in both cases were part of France’s Barkhane military operations in Mali against Islamic fighters. France's Barkhane force numbers 5,100 troops spread across the arid Sahel region and has been fighting jihadist groups alongside soldiers from Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, who together make up the G5 Sahel group. The group, the main jihadist alliance in the Sahel, cited a string of reasons for Saturday's attack including the continuing French military presence in the region, cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by a French newspaper and Macron's defence of them in the name of freedom of expression.

Bomb kills two French soldiers in Mali

France is developing bionic soldiers resistant to pain with microchip-enhanced brain power and superior hearing.

The country's ethical committee of the armed forces ministry gave approval in order for France to keep up with countries which are already working on similar projects.&nbsp;

Research is also being done to create pills which will keep soldiers awake for long periods and surgery to improve their hearing.&nbsp;

Potential areas to be explored include implants to increase soldiers’ “cerebral capacity” and to make them immune to stress. Drugs to improve service member’s mental resilience in the event they were captured are also being considered.

French scientists are also looking to create implants which enable army headquarters to remotely track the location of soldiers.&nbsp;And they are also trying to devise drugs which will make soldiers resistant to pain or be able to tolerate being held in isolation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The report warned that the French army could fall behind other countries which have already begun research into similar fields.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-intel-chief-says-china-has-created-biologically-enhanced-super-soldiers-347331">US intel chief says China has created biologically enhanced super soldiers</a>

Without enabling research into technologies such as these, the French armed forces would be at a disadvantage compared to other countries’ militaries, the report added.

However, the committee did lay out an ethical framework for hypothetical interventions, saying they should not jeopardise soldiers’ “humanity” and their ability to reintegrate into civilian life.

Florence Parly, the French armed forces minister, who asked the committee to consider the issue of “augmented” soldiers in January, said that the “invasive” modifications were not part of the&nbsp;army’s current plans.

<form action-xhr="/internal-api/newsletter-component/submit/lite" amp-access="NOT loggedIn" custom-validation-reporting="interact-and-submit" id="reg-lite-form" method="post" novalidate="" on="valid:AMP.setState({liteRegValid: false});invalid:AMP.setState({liteRegValid: true})" target="_top" verify-xhr="/internal-api/newsletter-component/verify">Earlier,&nbsp;US director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, said that China is already trying to find ways to make artificially enhanced soldiers and has already started testing.</form>

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France is developing bionic soldiers resistant to pain with microchip-enhanced brain power and superior hearing. The country's ethical committee of the armed forces ministry gave approval in order for France to keep up with countries which are already working on similar projects.

France is developing bionic soldiers resistant to pain with microchip-enhanced brain power and superior hearing. The country's ethical committee of the armed forces ministry gave approval in order for France to keep up with countries which are already working on similar projects. Research is also being done to create pills which will keep soldiers awake for long periods and surgery to improve their hearing. Potential areas to be explored include implants to increase soldiers’ “cerebral capacity” and to make them immune to stress. Drugs to improve service member’s mental resilience in the event they were captured are also being considered. French scientists are also looking to create implants which enable army headquarters to remotely track the location of soldiers. And they are also trying to devise drugs which will make soldiers resistant to pain or be able to tolerate being held in isolation. The report warned that the French army could fall behind other countries which have already begun research into similar fields. Also read: US intel chief says China has created biologically enhanced super soldiers Without enabling research into technologies such as these, the French armed forces would be at a disadvantage compared to other countries’ militaries, the report added. However, the committee did lay out an ethical framework for hypothetical interventions, saying they should not jeopardise soldiers’ “humanity” and their ability to reintegrate into civilian life. Florence Parly, the French armed forces minister, who asked the committee to consider the issue of “augmented” soldiers in January, said that the “invasive” modifications were not part of the army’s current plans. Earlier, US director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, said that China is already trying to find ways to make artificially enhanced soldiers and has already started testing.

France is developing bionic soldiers resistant to pain

The black boxes from two <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../thirteen-french-soldiers-fighting-jihadists-in- mali-killed-in-helicopter-crash-264659">French military helicopters</a> that collided in Mali killing 13 soldiers have been found, a French military spokesman said Wednesday.

The crash occurred late Monday during an operation against jihadists in the Liptako region, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. It was the heaviest single loss for the French military in nearly four decades.

"The two black boxes from the helicopters have been recovered, they will be handed over to the relevant authorities to be analysed," the spokesman, Colonel Frederic Barbry, told BFMTV.

Three helicopters and a squadron of Mirage jets had arrived on Monday to support ground troops pursuing Islamist extremists.

Shortly after troops engaged the insurgents, who fled on motorbikes and in a pickup truck, a Tiger attack helicopter collided with a Cougar military transport helicopter, killing all 13 onboard the two aircraft.

Barbry said no theory as to the cause of the crash is being ruled out, and it would be up to the investigation team to determine why the collision occurred.

The conditions for flying at the time of the crash were "extremely difficult" because it was a dark night with no moonlight, the spokesman said.

"The pilots work with night vision binoculars that intensify the residual light when there is no moon, no sources of artificial light like in cities, as is the case in this region."

Barbry said the soldiers' bodies will be repatriated to the French mainland.

The accident brought to 41 the number of French troops killed in the Sahel region since Paris intervened against Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists in Mali in 2013.

It also underscored the challenge for France of trying to control an insurgency in an area the size of Western Europe as a time of escalating violence.

The black boxes from two French military helicopters that collided in Mali killing 13 soldiers have been found, a French military spokesman said Wednesday. The crash occurred late Monday during an operation against jihadists in the Liptako region, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger.

The black boxes from two French military helicopters that collided in Mali killing 13 soldiers have been found, a French military spokesman said Wednesday. The crash occurred late Monday during an operation against jihadists in the Liptako region, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. It was the heaviest single loss for the French military in nearly four decades. "The two black boxes from the helicopters have been recovered, they will be handed over to the relevant authorities to be analysed," the spokesman, Colonel Frederic Barbry, told BFMTV. Three helicopters and a squadron of Mirage jets had arrived on Monday to support ground troops pursuing Islamist extremists. Shortly after troops engaged the insurgents, who fled on motorbikes and in a pickup truck, a Tiger attack helicopter collided with a Cougar military transport helicopter, killing all 13 onboard the two aircraft. Barbry said no theory as to the cause of the crash is being ruled out, and it would be up to the investigation team to determine why the collision occurred. The conditions for flying at the time of the crash were "extremely difficult" because it was a dark night with no moonlight, the spokesman said. "The pilots work with night vision binoculars that intensify the residual light when there is no moon, no sources of artificial light like in cities, as is the case in this region." Barbry said the soldiers' bodies will be repatriated to the French mainland. The accident brought to 41 the number of French troops killed in the Sahel region since Paris intervened against Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists in Mali in 2013. It also underscored the challenge for France of trying to control an insurgency in an area the size of Western Europe as a time of escalating violence.

Black boxes from crashed helicopters found in Mali

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