French anti-terror prosecutors have opened an investigation after a military-grade weapon was discovered in a car parked near a synagogue in Sarcelles, a Paris suburb with a large Jewish population. No arrests have been made. The discovery comes amid a surge in antisemitic acts in France since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. President Macron condemned rising antisemitism during a ceremony marking the exoneration of Alfred Dreyfus.

A large wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris has burned 800 hectares, forcing the closure of the A6 highway and disrupting rail services during a busy holiday weekend. Nearly 400 firefighters and water-bombing planes are battling the blaze, which Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said may have been deliberately set due to multiple ignition points. The fire occurs during a heatwave that has also forced the temporary shutdown of three nuclear power plants. The blaze is of exceptional scale and marks the first time firefighting planes from southern France have been deployed to the Paris region. The wildfire remains uncontained, with a new fire detected, and has now consumed 5% of the forest massif. Record heat on Sunday is giving way to slightly cooler temperatures on Monday in western France, but drought conditions continue to exacerbate the fire risk.

Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzling EU funds by the Paris Court of Appeal, receiving a 3-year sentence (1 year electronic bracelet), a fine, and a 45-month political ban (30 months suspended). She announced her candidacy for the 2027 presidential election and will appeal to the Court of Cassation. The article profiles likely candidates Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and Edouard Philippe, highlighting Le Pen's strong chance of reaching the second round but uncertainty over her opponent.

Ten European countries—Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom—announced the creation of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition following an inaugural meeting in Paris on 13 July. The coalition aims to develop a shared European anti-ballistic missile capability, leveraging Ukraine's combat experience against Russian ballistic missile attacks. The initiative is purely defensive and open to other nations. The meeting was attended by heads of state or government, EU and NATO leaders, and defense industry executives. The coalition will integrate European and Ukrainian defense industries to produce joint anti-ballistic systems. Subsequently, a Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris, co-chaired by French President Macron, UK PM Starmer, and German Chancellor Merz, gathered 23 heads of state and government. The UK joined a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine's defense and budgetary needs. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the upcoming 21st sanctions package, including 250 listings, and condemned the IOC's decision to allow Russian athletes to compete. Germany joined France in summoning the Russian ambassador over cyber and hybrid attacks. The UK sanctioned 24 individuals and entities for Russia's hybrid operations, attributing last year's attack on Poland's energy grid to Russia. The EU sanctioned nine people and four entities over Russian cyber espionage and sabotage. Macron's final Bastille Day parade as president, themed 'strategic awakening of Europe,' will feature 6,800 troops, 130 aircraft, and 500 soldiers from coalition countries, including Ukrainian pilots co-piloting Mirage jets and 25 Ukrainian troops marching. A new QR-code access system was implemented for public attendance, with 7,000 police mobilized.

France observed its first national day of remembrance for Alfred Dreyfus on the 120th anniversary of his exoneration, with President Macron warning that antisemitism remains a persistent threat. A statue of Dreyfus was unveiled, and a square named for an antisemitic writer was renamed in honor of Dreyfus's wife. The event comes as reports of antisemitic acts have surged since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the Gaza war.

Background: A record-breaking heatwave in France had already forced EDF to shut down or reduce output at three nuclear reactors due to river temperature limits. Today: Persistent high pressure and above-average temperatures across western and central Europe in June and early July have led to unusually warm rivers, prompting EDF to temporarily shut down a reactor at Golfech and anticipate restrictions at Nogent from 14 July if the Seine reaches forecast temperature. The heat has also increased electricity demand for air conditioning and fueled dangerous wildfires in Spain, notably in Almería province. Meanwhile, Typhoon Bavi, after weakening from Category 5, threatens eastern China with severe flooding.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced he will present a 'ten-year defense vision' at the 150th anniversary of the École de Guerre before his term ends. Speaking at the traditional July 13 military reception, he highlighted the doubling of the defense budget to €64 billion since 2017, fulfilling a key promise, and stressed the need for strategic foresight to prepare for future conflicts, including ongoing commitments in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. In his final address to the armed forces, Macron warned against nationalist retreat, urging successors to maintain defense spending and pursue a 'European preference' in defense policy, following the collapse of the Franco-German SCAF fighter jet project. He asserted that France and Europe are ready to defend freedom and law 'at the cost of blood if necessary,' referencing the ongoing war in Ukraine since 2022. The announcement raises questions about its impact on the next president's defense policy and the upcoming 2028 defense white paper.

The French Navy validated a new Rafale M F4 configuration carrying two 1,000 kg AASM precision-guided bombs, a first for the service. The test occurred on July 6-7, 2026, from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during its return from deployment in the Gulf of Oman. Each Rafale M also carried a Talios targeting pod, two MICA missiles, and external fuel tanks. The four bombs were successfully dropped on the Keravia range in Greece. The Charles de Gaulle returned to Toulon on July 11 after a 166-day mission, La Fayette 26, which included operations in the Atlantic, Baltic, Eastern Mediterranean, and Gulf of Oman, with 3,400 catapult launches and 5,000 flight hours.