The United States is currently investigating the leak of highly classified documents that reveal Israel’s possible plans for a retaliatory attack against Iran, according to a CNN report. The documents, which circulated online, offer a rare glimpse into Israel’s military preparations and have raised significant concerns within US intelligence circles.
The escape and its origin
The classified documents, dated October 15 and 16, began appearing on the Internet last Friday after being posted by a Telegram account called “Middle East Spectator.” Marked top secret, the documents were intended only for the United States and its intelligence-sharing partners, known as the “Five Eyes” alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
One of the documents, from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, describes Israel’s movement of munitions, likely in preparation for an imminent attack on Iran. Another document, attributed to the National Security Agency (NSA), describes Israeli air force exercises with air-to-surface missiles, further suggesting military preparations.
Major security breach
A US official described the leak as “deeply concerning” and confirmed the authenticity of the documents, CNN reported. The leak comes at a delicate time for US-Israel relations, particularly as Israel prepares for possible retaliation against Iran following a missile attack on October 1.
One particularly alarming detail in the leaked documents alludes to something Israel has never publicly confirmed: the existence of its nuclear weapons. However, the documents make clear that the United States has seen no evidence indicating that Israel plans to use such weapons against Iran.
Former CIA officer Mick Mulroy weighed in, saying: “If it is true that Israeli tactical plans for responding to Iran’s attack on October 1 have been leaked, this is a serious breach.” Mulroy also highlighted that this could damage future coordination between the US and Israel, as trust between the two nations could erode depending on how the leak occurred.
Ongoing investigation
The United States is now conducting a joint investigation, led by the FBI, Pentagon and US intelligence agencies, to determine how the documents were leaked and who had access to this sensitive material. The FBI has so far declined to comment.
A U.S. official suggested that while the leaked documents are concerning, they do not represent a worst-case scenario. “These two documents are bad, but not horrible,” the official said. “The concern is whether there are more.”
Past breaches and cyber threats
This latest leak echoes a major intelligence breach last year when a 21-year-old Air National Guard member posted classified documents on Discord, damaging US relations with key allies such as South Korea and Ukraine. In light of these current concerns, the United States has been on high alert for cyber threats, particularly from Iran. In August, US intelligence reported that Iran had hacked documents from Donald Trump’s campaign.
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