The US government is investigating the leak of highly classified intelligence regarding Israel’s potential military retaliation against Iran. The documents, which were posted on Telegram by an account called “Middle East Spectator,” date back to October 15 and 16 and are marked top secret.
These documents were intended for viewing only by the US and its intelligence-sharing partners in the “Five Eyes” alliance, consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. US officials have expressed deep concern over the leak, with one source confirming the authenticity of the documents.
The leaked intelligence outlines Israel’s military preparations for a strike against Iran, involving the movement of munitions and Israeli Air Force exercises with air-to-surface missiles.
The information appears to have been compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. While these details remain unverified by US officials, they reveal plans related to Israel’s response to Iran’s missile barrage from October 1. Despite the sensitive nature of the documents, CNN has chosen not to quote or publish them directly.
US Investigates Classified Leak on Israel’s Military Plans Against Iran, Raising Security Concerns
The leak comes at a critical time, as US-Israel relations may be impacted by this breach of trust. Israel has been planning retaliatory measures against Iran, and the documents also touch on a long-standing Israeli policy of non-disclosure about its nuclear weapons capabilities.
While the leaked documents suggest that Israel has nuclear weapons, they also indicate there are no signs Israel intends to use them against Iran. Former US officials, such as Mick Mulroy, warn that this breach could damage future cooperation between the two countries, as trust is essential for their partnership.
The US has launched an investigation into how these documents became public, with the FBI, Pentagon, and US intelligence agencies working together to determine who had access to the information.
The National Security Council referred inquiries to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, while the Pentagon and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency have declined to comment. Concerns remain about whether additional classified documents have been leaked and how this could escalate tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran.
This incident recalls a major intelligence leak last year when a young Air National Guardsman leaked sensitive information on Discord, causing significant strain on US relations with allies such as South Korea and Ukraine.
The US is particularly sensitive to such breaches, especially amid heightened threats of Iranian hacking campaigns targeting American political figures and institutions. As the investigation continues, it remains unclear whether the documents were hacked or deliberately leaked.
