Add New Module file_remove (#11032)

* Add New Module file_remove

* Add fixes from code review

* Change file_type documentation

* Remove python to_native from the module

* Remove redundant block/always cleanup

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Add more nox fixes to latest review

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

LGTM

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/main.yml

Right, that's better.

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Fix EXAMPLES regex pattern

* Add warning when listed file was removed by other process during
playbook execution

* remove raise exception from find_matching_files;

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

* Update plugins/modules/file_remove.py

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

---------

Co-authored-by: Felix Fontein <felix@fontein.de>

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/aliases

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+azp/posix/3

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/defaults/main.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+file_remove_testdir: "{{ remote_tmp_dir }}/file_remove_tests"

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/meta/main.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+dependencies:
+  - setup_remote_tmp_dir

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/main.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+---
+####################################################################
+# WARNING: These are designed specifically for Ansible tests       #
+# and should not be used as examples of how to write Ansible roles #
+####################################################################
+
+# Test code for the file_remove module
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+- name: Ensure the test directory is absent before starting
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: absent
+
+- name: Create the test directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'
+
+- name: Include tasks to test error handling
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: test_errors.yml
+
+- name: Include tasks to test glob pattern matching
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: test_glob.yml
+
+- name: Include tasks to test regex pattern matching
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: test_regex.yml
+
+- name: Include tasks to test recursive removal
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: test_recursive.yml
+
+- name: Include tasks to test different file types
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: test_file_types.yml
+
+- name: Include tasks to test check mode and diff mode
+  ansible.builtin.include_tasks: test_check_diff.yml

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/test_check_diff.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# Test check mode and diff mode
+
+- name: Create test files for check mode testing
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+  loop:
+    - check1.tmp
+    - check2.tmp
+    - check3.txt
+
+- name: Test removal in check mode
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.tmp"
+  check_mode: true
+  register: check_mode_result
+
+- name: Verify check mode reported changes but didn't remove files
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - check_mode_result is changed
+      - check_mode_result.files_count == 2
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/check1.tmp' in check_mode_result.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/check2.tmp' in check_mode_result.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify files still exist after check mode
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: files_after_check
+  loop:
+    - check1.tmp
+    - check2.tmp
+
+- name: Assert files were not actually removed in check mode
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+  loop: "{{ files_after_check.results }}"
+
+- name: Test removal in normal mode with diff
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.tmp"
+  diff: true
+  register: diff_mode_result
+
+- name: Verify diff mode provides before/after information
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - diff_mode_result is changed
+      - diff_mode_result.files_count == 2
+      - diff_mode_result.diff is defined
+      - diff_mode_result.diff.before is defined
+      - diff_mode_result.diff.after is defined
+      - diff_mode_result.diff.before.files | length == 2
+      - diff_mode_result.diff.after.files | length == 0
+
+- name: Verify files were actually removed
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: files_after_removal
+  loop:
+    - check1.tmp
+    - check2.tmp
+
+- name: Assert files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - not item.stat.exists
+  loop: "{{ files_after_removal.results }}"
+
+- name: Test idempotency - try to remove already removed files
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.tmp"
+  register: idempotent_result
+
+- name: Verify idempotency (no changes when no files match)
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - idempotent_result is not changed
+      - idempotent_result.files_count == 0
+      - idempotent_result.removed_files == []
+
+- name: Test idempotency in check mode
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.tmp"
+  check_mode: true
+  register: idempotent_check_result
+
+- name: Verify idempotency in check mode
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - idempotent_check_result is not changed
+      - idempotent_check_result.files_count == 0
+
+- name: Clean up test directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: absent

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/test_errors.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# Test error handling
+
+- name: Test with non-existent path
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: /this/path/does/not/exist
+    pattern: "*.txt"
+  register: error_result_1
+  ignore_errors: true
+
+- name: Verify that non-existent path fails
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - error_result_1 is failed
+      - "'does not exist' in error_result_1.msg"
+
+- name: Create a test file to use as a non-directory path
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/testfile"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+
+- name: Test with a file path instead of directory
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/testfile"
+    pattern: "*.txt"
+  register: error_result_2
+  ignore_errors: true
+
+- name: Verify that non-directory path fails
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - error_result_2 is failed
+      - "'not a directory' in error_result_2.msg"
+
+- name: Test with invalid regex pattern
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "[unclosed"
+    use_regex: true
+  register: error_result_3
+  ignore_errors: true
+
+- name: Verify that invalid regex fails
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - error_result_3 is failed
+      - "'Invalid regular expression' in error_result_3.msg"
+
+- name: Remove test file
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/testfile"
+    state: absent

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/test_file_types.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# Test different file types
+
+- name: Create regular test files
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+  loop:
+    - file1.tmp
+    - file2.tmp
+    - target1.txt
+    - target2.txt
+
+- name: Create symbolic links
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    src: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item.src }}"
+    dest: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item.dest }}"
+    state: link
+  loop:
+    - { src: target1.txt, dest: link1.tmp }
+    - { src: target2.txt, dest: link2.tmp }
+
+- name: Remove only regular files (file_type=file, default)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.tmp"
+    file_type: file
+  register: file_type_result_1
+
+- name: Verify only regular .tmp files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - file_type_result_1 is changed
+      - file_type_result_1.files_count == 2
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/file1.tmp' in file_type_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/file2.tmp' in file_type_result_1.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify symbolic links still exist
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    follow: false
+  register: links_exist
+  loop:
+    - link1.tmp
+    - link2.tmp
+
+- name: Assert symbolic links still exist
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+      - item.stat.islnk
+  loop: "{{ links_exist.results }}"
+
+- name: Remove only symbolic links (file_type=link)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.tmp"
+    file_type: link
+  register: file_type_result_2
+
+- name: Verify only symbolic links were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - file_type_result_2 is changed
+      - file_type_result_2.files_count == 2
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/link1.tmp' in file_type_result_2.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/link2.tmp' in file_type_result_2.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify target files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: targets_exist
+  loop:
+    - target1.txt
+    - target2.txt
+
+- name: Assert target files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+  loop: "{{ targets_exist.results }}"
+
+- name: Create more test files and links
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+  loop:
+    - data1.dat
+    - data2.dat
+
+- name: Create more symbolic links
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    src: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item.src }}"
+    dest: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item.dest }}"
+    state: link
+  loop:
+    - { src: target1.txt, dest: link1.dat }
+    - { src: target2.txt, dest: link2.dat }
+
+- name: Remove both files and links (file_type=any)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.dat"
+    file_type: any
+  register: file_type_result_3
+
+- name: Verify both files and links were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - file_type_result_3 is changed
+      - file_type_result_3.files_count == 4
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/data1.dat' in file_type_result_3.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/data2.dat' in file_type_result_3.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/link1.dat' in file_type_result_3.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/link2.dat' in file_type_result_3.removed_files"
+
+- name: Clean up for next test
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: absent
+
+- name: Recreate test directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/test_glob.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# Test glob pattern matching
+
+- name: Create test files for glob testing
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+  loop:
+    - test1.txt
+    - test2.txt
+    - test3.log
+    - data.txt
+    - readme.md
+    - backup_file.bak
+
+- name: Remove files matching *.txt pattern
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.txt"
+  register: glob_result_1
+
+- name: Verify *.txt files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - glob_result_1 is changed
+      - glob_result_1.files_count == 3
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/test1.txt' in glob_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/test2.txt' in glob_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/data.txt' in glob_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "'3 file(s)' in glob_result_1.msg"
+
+- name: Verify remaining files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: remaining_files
+  loop:
+    - test3.log
+    - readme.md
+    - backup_file.bak
+
+- name: Assert remaining files exist
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+  loop: "{{ remaining_files.results }}"
+
+- name: Remove files matching test* pattern
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "test*"
+  register: glob_result_2
+
+- name: Verify test* files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - glob_result_2 is changed
+      - glob_result_2.files_count == 1
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/test3.log' in glob_result_2.removed_files"
+
+- name: Remove files matching [rb]* pattern (character set)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "[rb]*"
+  register: glob_result_3
+
+- name: Verify [rb]* files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - glob_result_3 is changed
+      - glob_result_3.files_count == 2
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/readme.md' in glob_result_3.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/backup_file.bak' in glob_result_3.removed_files"
+
+- name: Try to remove with non-matching pattern
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.nonexistent"
+  register: glob_result_4
+
+- name: Verify no files were removed (idempotent)
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - glob_result_4 is not changed
+      - glob_result_4.files_count == 0
+      - glob_result_4.removed_files == []
+      - "'0 file(s)' in glob_result_4.msg"
+
+- name: Clean up for next test
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: absent
+
+- name: Recreate test directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/test_recursive.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# Test recursive removal
+
+- name: Create nested directory structure
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'
+  loop:
+    - subdir1
+    - subdir2
+    - subdir1/nested1
+    - subdir2/nested2
+    - subdir2/nested2/deep
+
+- name: Create test files in nested directories
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+  loop:
+    - temp1.log
+    - temp2.log
+    - subdir1/temp3.log
+    - subdir1/data.txt
+    - subdir1/nested1/temp4.log
+    - subdir2/temp5.log
+    - subdir2/nested2/temp6.log
+    - subdir2/nested2/deep/temp7.log
+    - subdir2/nested2/deep/file.txt
+
+- name: Remove .log files non-recursively (should only remove root level)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.log"
+    recursive: false
+  register: recursive_result_1
+
+- name: Verify only root level .log files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - recursive_result_1 is changed
+      - recursive_result_1.files_count == 2
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/temp1.log' in recursive_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/temp2.log' in recursive_result_1.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify nested .log files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: nested_files_exist
+  loop:
+    - subdir1/temp3.log
+    - subdir1/nested1/temp4.log
+    - subdir2/temp5.log
+    - subdir2/nested2/temp6.log
+    - subdir2/nested2/deep/temp7.log
+
+- name: Assert nested .log files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+  loop: "{{ nested_files_exist.results }}"
+
+- name: Remove .log files recursively (should remove all .log files)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "*.log"
+    recursive: true
+  register: recursive_result_2
+
+- name: Verify all .log files were removed recursively
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - recursive_result_2 is changed
+      - recursive_result_2.files_count == 5
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/subdir1/temp3.log' in recursive_result_2.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/subdir1/nested1/temp4.log' in recursive_result_2.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/subdir2/temp5.log' in recursive_result_2.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/subdir2/nested2/temp6.log' in recursive_result_2.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/subdir2/nested2/deep/temp7.log' in recursive_result_2.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify .txt files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: txt_files_exist
+  loop:
+    - subdir1/data.txt
+    - subdir2/nested2/deep/file.txt
+
+- name: Assert .txt files still exist
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+  loop: "{{ txt_files_exist.results }}"
+
+- name: Verify directories still exist (directories should never be removed)
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+  register: dirs_exist
+  loop:
+    - subdir1
+    - subdir2
+    - subdir1/nested1
+    - subdir2/nested2
+    - subdir2/nested2/deep
+
+- name: Assert directories still exist
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - item.stat.exists
+      - item.stat.isdir
+  loop: "{{ dirs_exist.results }}"
+
+- name: Clean up for next test
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: absent
+
+- name: Recreate test directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'

tests/integration/targets/file_remove/tasks/test_regex.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+---
+# Copyright (c) Ansible Project
+# GNU General Public License v3.0+ (see LICENSES/GPL-3.0-or-later.txt or https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt)
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+# Test regex pattern matching
+
+- name: Create test files for regex testing
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/{{ item }}"
+    state: touch
+    mode: '0644'
+  loop:
+    - backup_20241101.tar.gz
+    - backup_20241102.tar.gz
+    - backup_20241103.tar.gz
+    - backup_old.tar.gz
+    - file123.txt
+    - file456.txt
+    - fileabc.txt
+    - test_file.log
+
+- name: Remove files matching regex backup_[0-9]{8}\.tar\.gz
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "backup_[0-9]{8}\\.tar\\.gz"
+    use_regex: true
+  register: regex_result_1
+
+- name: Verify regex matched files were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - regex_result_1 is changed
+      - regex_result_1.files_count == 3
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/backup_20241101.tar.gz' in regex_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/backup_20241102.tar.gz' in regex_result_1.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/backup_20241103.tar.gz' in regex_result_1.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify backup_old.tar.gz still exists
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/backup_old.tar.gz"
+  register: backup_old_stat
+
+- name: Assert backup_old.tar.gz was not removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - backup_old_stat.stat.exists
+
+- name: Remove files matching regex file[0-9]+\.txt (digits only)
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "file[0-9]+\\.txt"
+    use_regex: true
+  register: regex_result_2
+
+- name: Verify files with digits were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - regex_result_2 is changed
+      - regex_result_2.files_count == 2
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/file123.txt' in regex_result_2.removed_files"
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/file456.txt' in regex_result_2.removed_files"
+
+- name: Verify fileabc.txt still exists
+  ansible.builtin.stat:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}/fileabc.txt"
+  register: fileabc_stat
+
+- name: Assert fileabc.txt was not removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - fileabc_stat.stat.exists
+
+- name: Remove files with regex using anchors ^test.*
+  community.general.file_remove:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    pattern: "^test.*"
+    use_regex: true
+  register: regex_result_3
+
+- name: Verify files starting with 'test' were removed
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - regex_result_3 is changed
+      - regex_result_3.files_count == 1
+      - "file_remove_testdir ~ '/test_file.log' in regex_result_3.removed_files"
+
+- name: Clean up for next test
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: absent
+
+- name: Recreate test directory
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ file_remove_testdir }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: '0755'