Iran-Israel Conflict: Bruno Retailleau Asks Prefects for "Increased Vigilance," Particularly Near Places of Worship

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau asked prefects to increase vigilance across the country, particularly at places of worship, festive gatherings and Israeli and American interests, in a telegram sent on Friday, June 13, after the Israeli attack in Iran .

"Particular vigilance should be exercised on all sites that could be targeted by acts of terrorism or malicious acts by a foreign power," Bruno Retailleau said in a telegram seen by AFP, as Israel and Iran continued their exchange of deadly strikes this Saturday .

The hostilities were triggered by a massive Israeli attack on Iranian military and nuclear sites, to which Tehran responded with ballistic missiles.

In this context, Bruno Retailleau asked prefects to pay "particular attention" to the security of places of worship, schools, public and institutional establishments, and sites with high traffic through a visible presence, particularly at the time of entry and exit," he explained, including "festive, cultural or religious gatherings."

These enhanced protection measures also apply to "Israeli and American interests as well as to Jewish community establishments."

The minister called for the mobilization of "intelligence services (...), "internal security forces" (...), "municipal police and local elected officials", and the "Sentinelle system".

President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday evening a "strengthening" of the Sentinelle system , which deploys soldiers in France, "to deal with all potential threats on national territory."

On Friday, Israel launched massive strikes of unprecedented scale on Iranian military and nuclear sites, claiming it had intelligence proving that Iran was approaching the "point of no return" towards an atomic bomb.

Iran, which denies developing nuclear weapons, fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel in response to the attack, which Iran described as a "declaration of war."