Iraq reportedly warned France about the planned terror attacks that killed more than 120 people on Friday night in Paris, however French officials said the warning was too vague to be of value.
"We have recovered information from our direct sources in the Islamic State terrorist organization about the orders issued by terrorist 'Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi' directing all members of the organization to implement an international attack that includes all coalition countries, in addition to Iran and the Russian Federation, through bombings or assassinations or hostage taking in the coming days. We do not have information on the date and place for implementing these terrorist operations at this time," the Iraqi dispatch read in part,
according to The Associated Press.
When asked for comment on the dispatch, French officials said they receive similar warnings "all the time" and "every day."
Asked for comment, a U.S. official said he was not aware of any threat information sent to any Western governments that was specific enough to prevent or stop the attacks.
Six senior Iraqi officials confirmed that the dispatch was sent, and two of them said France was given details beforehand that French authorities have not made public.
The Iraqi officials said that the terrorist attacks were planned in the Islamic State's de facto capital, Raqqa, Syria, and the attackers then met up with a sleeper cell in France.
Together, the group — comprised of 24 people — carried out suicide bombings and mass shootings at the national soccer stadium, a concert hall, and nearby nightspots Friday. In addition to the 129 killed, 350 people were injured, 99 of them seriously.
Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud was identified by one official as the suspect mastermind of the plot. Abaaoud also has suspected ties to the man who tried to attack passengers on a high-speed Paris-bound train,
The Associated Press reported.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.