Videos/Pics: France celebrates Bastille Day with major military parade
According to Euro News, roughly 7,000 people were expected to march or ride in Monday's Bastille Day military parade on Champs-Élysées avenue in Paris. The outlet noted that Bastille Day, which is France's most prominent holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille fortress and prison on July 14, 1789, which marked the start of the French Revolution against France's monarchy.
The Associated Press reported that French President Emmanuel Macron reviewed the French troops and lit the eternal flame under the Arc de Triomphe as part of the Bastille Day ceremony on Monday.
In a video shared by Macron on X, formerly Twitter, French fighter jets can be seen flying over Monday's military parade, with the red, white, and blue colors of the French flag trailing behind.
The French president also shared pictures from the military parade alongside the translated caption, 'Recognition, trust, and pride for our armies that defend our freedom.'
Reconnaissance, confiance et fierté pour nos armées qui défendent notre liberté. pic.twitter.com/qSOOGM0nD7 — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 14, 2025
According to The Associated Press, France hosts a special guest each year for the Bastille Day celebrations. The outlet noted that this year's special guest was Indonesia.
A video of Indonesian troops marching in France's parade and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto greeting Macron was shared on the French president's social media page.
Terima kasih atas kehadiran Anda di hari perayaan nasional kami, sahabat @Prabowo. Saya sangat bangga melihat tentara Indonesia berbaris bersama pasukan kami.
Saya masih menyimpan kenangan kuat dari kunjungan saya pada bulan Mei lalu, terutama saat berada di Akademi Militer… pic.twitter.com/Ta3y4r8WOl — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 14, 2025
The Associated Press reported that the Indonesian delegation in Monday's military parade included 200 traditional drummers.
READ MORE: Videos: Army's 250th anniversary celebrated with Trump military parade
Brig. Gen. Ferry Irawan, the commander of Indonesia's military delegation, told The Associated Press, 'For us as Indonesian people, this is a very important and historic military and diplomatic collaboration.'
Pictures of the Indonesian delegation were shared by France Diplomacy. 'Indonesia is guest of honour at the French Bastille Day celebrations, with Indonesian troops opening the military parade,' France Diplomacy stated. 'This year, our two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.'
#Indonesia is guest of honour at the French Bastille Day celebrations, with Indonesian troops opening the military parade.
This year, our two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations 🇫🇷 🇮🇩
📸 : @ecpa_d pic.twitter.com/rezjXbyy9b — France Diplomacy 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) July 14, 2025
In addition to the Indonesian troops, The Associated Press reported that Belgian and Luxembourg troops serving as part of NATO's force in Romania and Finnish troops serving as part of the United Nations force in Lebanon also were featured in Monday's military parade.
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The Hill
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MAZRAA, Syria -- MAZRAA, Syria (AP) — Syria's armed Bedouin clans announced Sunday they had withdrawn from the Druze-majority city of Sweida following weeklong clashes and a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, as humanitarian aid convoys started to enter the battered southern city. The clashes between militias of the Druze religious minority and the Sunni Muslim clans killed hundreds and threatened to unravel Syria's already fragile postwar transition. Israel also launched dozens of airstrikes in the Druze-majority Sweida province, targeting government forces who had effectively sided with the Bedouins. The clashes also led to a series of targeted sectarian attacks against the Druze community, followed by revenge attacks against the Bedouins. A series of tit-for-tat kidnappings sparked the clashes in various towns and villages in the province, which later spread to Sweida city, the provincial capital. Government forces were redeployed to halt renewed fighting that erupted Thursday, before withdrawing again. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who has been perceived as more sympathetic to the Bedouins, had tried to appeal to the Druze community while remaining critical of the militias. He later urged the Bedouins to leave the city, saying that they 'cannot replace the role of the state in handling the country's affairs and restoring security.' 'We thank the Bedouins for their heroic stances but demand they fully commit to the ceasefire and comply with the state's orders," he said in an address broadcast Saturday. Dozens of armed Bedouin fighters alongside other clans from around the country who came to support them remained on the outskirts of the city and were cordoned off by government security forces and military police. They blame the clashes on the Druze factions loyal to spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri and accuse them of harming Bedouin families. 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Al-Hijri did not directly respond to the accusations but said in a statement that he welcomes any assistance for Sweida and slammed what he claims were distorted campaigns against him. 'We reaffirm that we have no dispute with anyone on any religious or ethnic basis," the statement read. "Shame and disgrace be upon all those who seek to sow discord and hatred in the minds of young people.' The U.N. International Organization for Migration said 128,571 people were displaced during the clashes, including 43,000 on Saturday alone. Washington's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said the clashes and atrocities 'overshadowed' an initial cautious optimism about the country's post-war transition and the international community's lifting of sanctions. 'All factions must immediately lay down their arms, cease hostilities and abandon cycles of tribal vengeance,' Barrack said on X. 'Syria stands at a critical juncture — peace and dialogue must prevail — and prevail now.' Among those killed in the weeklong fighting were dozens of Druze civilians slain in a series of targeted attacks in the city at the hands of Bedouin fighters and government forces. Videos surfaced online of fighters destroying portraits of Druze religious officials and notables in homes, and shaving the mustaches of elderly Druze, seen as an insult to culture and tradition. Druze militias in return attacked Bedouin-majority areas in the outskirts of the province, forcing families to flee to neighboring Daraa province. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. Syria's Druze largely celebrated the downfall of the Assad family that ended decades of tyrannical rule. While they had concerns about Al-Sharaa's de facto Islamist rule, a large number wanted to approach matters diplomatically. Al-Hijri and his supporters, though, have taken a more confrontational approach with Al-Sharaa, contrary to most other influential Druze figures. Critics also note al-Hijri's previous allegiance to Assad. However, the recent clashes and sectarian attacks on the minority community have made a growing number of Druze in the area more skeptical about Damascus' new leadership and more doubtful of peaceful coexistence.
