The US is investigating a leak of secret US information about Israel’s plans to retaliate against Iran, CNN reports, citing three knowledgeable sources. Axios.com has similar information.
The leak is “deeply concerning,” a US official told CNN and confirmed the authenticity of the leaked documents. The documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online on Friday after being posted on Telegram by an account called “Middle East Spectator”.
They are classified as top secret and appear to have been intended for viewing only by the US and its “Five Eyes” allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
They describe the preparations that Israel appears to be making for an attack against Iran. One of the documents, which appears to have been prepared by the National Geospatial Intelligence Service, says, among other things, that Israel will transport ammunition.
Another document signed by the National Security Agency describes Israeli air force exercises involving air-to-ground missiles, which are also believed to be in preparation for an attack on Iran. CNN does not directly cite or show the documents.
At an extremely delicate moment, the leak
A US official said the investigation was looking into who had access to the alleged Pentagon document. Any such leak would automatically trigger an FBI investigation, along with the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies. The FBI declined to comment.
The information leak comes at a highly delicate moment in US-Israel relations and will certainly anger the Israelis, who are preparing to attack Iran in response to the October 1 missile barrage.
“If it is true that Israel’s tactical plans to respond to Iran’s October 1 attack were disclosed, this is a serious violation,” said Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and retired official. of the CIA.
Fear that there may be other documents
Another US official said that “the leak of these two documents is bad news, but not terrible. The question is whether there is more.”
It is unclear how the documents were made public or whether they were purposely hacked or leaked. The US is already on high alert.