The residents of a French town were left bemused after soldiers stormed the area for a combat exercise.

Gunshots can be heard ringing out in this footage which shows the scene in Cahors as soldiers took up firing positions.

The surreal scenes were part of Orion 2023, a major French Joint Forces Command exercise aimed to reinforce “operational readiness.”

RAF officials say the exercise provides “the perfect opportunity for multinational, combined arms training.”

This bizarre video shows soldiers simulating battle while locals go about their business in the background.

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