France has launched military operations against Russia under conditions of strict secrecy, according to senior sources in the French government quoted by Le Monde.
Le Monde reported that France is already conducting undisclosed military operations targeting Russia, citing an anonymous source in the French Ministry of Defense.
When asked whether Paris could respond to Moscow militarily without going public, the source replied, “This is already happening.”
Under international law, these actions do not constitute France entering into a state of war with Russia, but rather mark the start of unacknowledged hybrid attacks in response to Russian actions.
Even so, this rare admission carries significant weight, as it is said to shed light for the first time on NATO country operations against Russia.
It remains unclear, according to the source, where these operations are taking place, whether inside Russia, on the front lines in Ukraine, in cyberspace, against Russian influence networks, or as efforts to counter sabotage activities in Europe.
It is thought that France may be carrying out retaliatory hybrid attacks deep inside Russian territory.
The very fact that a French defense source spoke to ongoing countermeasures against Moscow is being interpreted as a sign that Paris has shifted from threats to actions.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron convened presidential candidates and party leaders at the Élysée Palace to brief them behind closed doors on the Russian hybrid threat.
According to Le Monde, participants were told of a surge in Russian shadow operations across Europe, from cyberattacks and disinformation to sabotage and targeting of critical infrastructure.
Notably, Macron’s warnings reportedly made a strong impression even on far-right politicians Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, whose party has been criticized in the past for its perceived soft stance toward Moscow.
Both leaders are now taking a tougher position on Russia. Le Pen and Bardella described the transfer of Russian-owned retailer Auchan into external administration as a hostile act against France.
They declared that Moscow cannot dictate French policy through threats, destabilization, or pressure on French companies.
(UAWire)
