Israel is claiming that Iran is planning to launch a terrorist attack on the Olympic Games that are currently taking place in France. 

The Times Of Israel reports that the Israelis warned France about the terrorist plot in a letter that was recently sent by Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz to Stéphane Séjourné, Katz's French counterpart.

Katz sent the letter to Sejourne on Thursday, just as the Olympic Games were beginning. The opening ceremony of the games, where more than 6,000 athletes from around the world will compete, was held on Friday, July 26, 2024.

France, at the time of this writing, has not released a public statement on the matter.

The warning

In the letter, Katz informs Sejourne of intelligence that Israel has suggested that Iran is looking to target members of Israeli's delegation for the Olympic Games.

"We currently have assessments regarding the potential threat posed by Iranian terrorist proxies and other terrorist organizations who aim to carry out attacks against members of the Israeli delegation and Israeli tourists during the Olympics," Katz wrote.

Katz, in the letter, did not go into specifics.

He simply said, "There are those who seek to undermine the celebratory nature of this joyous event."

Katz also thanked France for it "unprecedented" effort to protect Israeli athletes, for refusing to ban Israeli athletes from the competition, and for its "unequivocal condemnation of the incitement" against the Israeli delegation.

Iran responds, but not France

Iran, according to Reuters, has responded to the warning issued by Israel to France about the possible Iranian-backed plot to attack Israeli athletes.

"Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused," the Iranian mission to the United Nations said.

France has yet to comment on the situation. France, though, as mentioned, is providing heightened security for Israeli participants in the Olympic Games.

Reuters reports, "Israeli competitors will be escorted to and from events by elite tactical units and given 24-hour protection throughout the Olympics, officials say. Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, is helping with security."

If Israeli athletes were to be attacked at this year's Olympic Games, such an attack would not be unprecedented. Reuters notes:

Many Israelis still remember with horror the deaths of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team in an attack and hostage-taking by the Palestinian militant group Black September at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.