France Reflects on a Decade of Islamist Terrorism and Ongoing Security Challenges

As the 10th anniversary of the November 2015 Paris attacks approaches, France is intensifying efforts to confront the evolving Islamist terrorism threat that has deeply affected its society since 2015. Nicolas Lerner, head of the Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE) since December 2023, highlighted in an exclusive interview with Le Figaro the persistent and shifting nature of this threat. He noted, “the history of Islamist terrorism responds to cycles” and emphasized the country's ongoing fight to prevent the establishment of new territorial caliphates outside its borders, which often lead to exported threats. The Paris attacks themselves remain a painful memory, characterized by attackers trained abroad and operating with plans developed in combat zones, presenting operational modes that security agencies continue to study.

The impact of Islamist terrorism since 2015 has not been confined to Paris, spreading across multiple familiar French landscapes. Jérôme Fourquet described these attacks as a “kaléidoscope,” referencing locations including the church in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, a supermarket in Trèbes, and the Bois d’Aulne college, illustrating that no area has been spared the repercussions of such violence.

The Interior Ministry commemorated these tragic events with a call not to forget the unprecedented violence and the bravery of responders that night, underscoring the evolution in anti-terrorism measures since then. Meanwhile, Lerner expanded on the broader security context, pointing to how global conflicts like the Ukraine war have reshaped intelligence operations. He stressed the necessity of European strategic autonomy in intelligence and military capabilities to meet hybrid threats such as cyber warfare and disinformation campaigns, citing the Salt Typhoon incident as a stark example.

Lerner also warned against the limitations of Western analytical frameworks when assessing foreign leaders, a misjudgment that had consequences prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This insight parallels challenges in understanding jihadist groups and signals the increasing complexity facing French intelligence. He stressed the interplay between human intelligence and technological capabilities within the DGSE, united by a commitment to national security.

Overall, France remains vigilant against a very high and mutating Islamist terror threat ten years after the 2015 attacks. The combination of learning from past attacks, adapting intelligence methods to new global realities, and commemorating victims builds the foundation of France’s ongoing struggle to protect its citizens from terrorism.