In the notorious northern neighborhoods of Marseille, France's second biggest city, a brutal gang war is raging between two rival factions, Yoda and DZ Mafia. The violence has escalated dramatically this year, with 36 people already losing their lives, surpassing the total number of deaths in 2022.

The city's state prosecutor Dominique Laurens has described the situation as a "bloodbath." The most recent victim of this deadly conflict was a 30-year-old man who was gunned down with a Kalashnikov assault rifle in northern Marseille on Tuesday night.

Police prefect Frederique Camilleri confirmed that this murder is just the latest episode in the ongoing fight between Yoda and DZ Mafia, who have been responsible for 80 percent of the 68 gang-related killings or attempted killings in Marseille this year. What's particularly alarming about this gang war is the involvement of teenagers.

One horrifying incident involved a 17-year-old boy who was beaten to death by 30 attackers in a high-rise housing project known as La Paternelle. The killing was live-streamed on Snapchat, showcasing the brazen nature of these crimes.

According to Camilleri, the motivations behind these murders have shifted. Instead of fighting for territory, it has become about striking fear into their rivals. She described it as a vendetta—a blood feud driven by vengeance. Furthermore, the profile of the killers has changed.

They are now younger and less professional, with recruitment becoming as commonplace as hiring a lookout. Even after the arrest of several presumed members of hit squads, there seems to be a steady supply of individuals willing to carry out contract killings.

Camilleri stated that the recruitment of killers has become so frequent that the usual six-month lull in violence following an arrest is no longer observed. Surprisingly, despite the increasing gang-related deaths, the police have reported greater success in their fight against the drugs trade.

They have seized a significant number of weapons, including assault rifles, and made numerous arrests and confiscations of criminal assets. One notable arrest was that of Mohamed Djeha, known as Mimo, a suspected major drug dealer.

The authorities are now focusing on following the money and dismantling the financial networks behind the drug trade. The national government has also taken notice of the dire situation in Marseille. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced plans to dispatch the CRS 8 police unit, specialized in handling urban violence, to tackle the local networks and drug dealing spots.

President Emmanuel Macron has also introduced measures to address schooling inequality and poverty in the city's run-down neighborhoods, which have contributed to the recruitment of young individuals by the drug gangs. Marseille has a long history of drug trafficking, dating back to its involvement in the infamous French Connection in the 1930s.

It served as a major hub for the world's biggest heroin producing and smuggling network. While that network was dismantled in the 1970s, the city continues to struggle with drug-related violence. The residents of Marseille live in fear, with one resident expressing their desperation to President Macron during his visit, stating, "We are hostages here.

We're afraid to go out at night. Everybody wants to leave." The situation in Marseille is critical, and urgent action is needed to bring an end to this devastating gang war and restore peace to the city's streets.