France's government hit out at a group of serving French soldiers who published an open letter claiming a civil war was brewing due to President Emmanuel Macron's handling of Islamism.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the anonymous signatories lacked courage, while Prime Minister Jean Castex labelled it a political manoeuvre by the far right.
Defence minister Florence Parly described the letter as part of a “crude political scheme”.
"It uses all the rhetoric, the vocabulary, the tone, the references which are those of the extreme right,” she told TV channel BFM.
"I believe that when you are in the military you don't do this kind of thing in hiding," Mr Darmanin said. "These people are anonymous. Is this courage? To be anonymous?"
But far-right political leader Marine Le Pen, expected to be Mr Macron’s main challenger in next year’s presidential election, welcomed the letter and said civil war was always a risk.
"It is clearly not a call to insurrection," she said. "Otherwise I would not be supporting it."
The letter, published by the magazine Valeurs Actuelles, was signed by an unknown number of soldiers.
"We are not talking about extending your mandates or conquering others. We are talking about the survival of our country, the survival of your country," it said.
The soldiers said they came from a younger generation of soldiers who had been involved in active service.
"They have offered up their lives to destroy the Islamism that you have made concessions to on our soil," the letter stated.
It claimed that, for some religious communities, "France means nothing but an object of sarcasm, contempt or even hatred".
"If a civil war breaks out, the military will maintain order on its own soil … civil war is brewing in France and you know it perfectly well".
It followed a letter last month that offered similar warnings, signed by about 20 semi-retired generals and 80 other officers.
Mr Macron’s government recently set out its “anti-separatism” bill, which aims to clamp down on extremism and values deemed at odds with France’s constitution.
While it has been criticised by some for unfairly targeting Muslims, others argue it has not gone far enough.
France's upper house has added a number of amendments to the bill, including banning the hijab for under-18s in public.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
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7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
