Israel has issued a warning to France about potential threats from Iran-backed groups targeting Israeli athletes and tourists during the Paris Olympic Games.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed concerns in a letter to his French counterpart, stating that assessments indicate possible attacks from affiliates of Iranian terror and other terrorist organizations.
France has responded by implementing a substantial security operation, deploying around 18,000 troops to safeguard the Games, supplemented by regular police forces. Additionally, all Israeli athletes will receive 24-hour security from elite French police units inside the Olympic Village and during excursions outside the northern Paris compound.
In a recent address to the US Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the formation of a global alliance to counter the Iranian “axis of terror,” emphasizing the need for the United States and Israel to unite against Iran and its allies.
The backdrop to these tensions includes Iran’s vocal support for the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, although Iran denied direct involvement. The situation has escalated, involving Iran-backed groups across the region.
Iran continues to support these groups, which include Yemen’s Huthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and former Iran-backed paramilitaries in the Iraqi armed forces, all part of a Tehran-aligned “axis of resistance” supporting Hamas. However, Iran maintains that these groups operate independently in their decisions and actions.
This complex geopolitical situation has further been strained by recent military actions, including an unprecedented drone and missile attack by Iran on Israel, which followed an airstrike that destroyed Iran’s consulate in Damascus and resulted in the deaths of several Revolutionary Guards.
