The United States is investigating the leak of top-secret US intelligence information about Israeli preparations for a retaliatory attack on Iran, CNN reported, citing its sources. The Axios website reported that American officials are “extremely concerned” about the possible leak of intelligence documents in this case. One of them was posted on Telegram by a pro-Iran account.
The case concerns a document published on Thursday by the Middle East Spectator account allegedly coming from the subject Pentagon National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). According to Axios, the account has links with Iranian services, and the author of the post claimed to have received the document from an “informed source in the US intelligence community.” The document is classified as “top secret” and talks about Israeli preparations for a retaliatory strike observed by American intelligence on October 15-16 Israel against Iran. These include the movement of at least 56 ballistic missiles, drone activity and Israeli military exercises.
According to Axios, the Pentagon and the US intelligence community declined to comment on the matter, but did not deny the authenticity of the documents. According to the website, US officials are “extremely concerned” about the potentially very serious intelligence leak, although they doubt it will affect Israel's plans for an attack.
'Deeply disturbing' leak of top secret information
CNN's website also writes, citing its sources, that the American government is investigating a “deeply disturbing” leak of top-secret intelligence information. USA on Israeli preparations.
The website notes that the leak occurred at “an extremely sensitive moment in U.S.-Israeli relations and is sure to anger the Israelis, who were preparing to attack Iran in response to that country's missile fire on October 1.”
“If it is true that Israeli tactical plans to respond to Iran's October 1 attack have been revealed, it is a serious violation,” Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East affairs and a retired military officer, said as quoted by CNN. CIA.
Biden: I'm privy to Israeli plans
On Friday, the president of the United States Joe Biden he said he was privy to Israeli plans but refused to provide any details. The strike would be a response to Iranian missile attack on October 1which was in retaliation for Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniy in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah in Lebanon. According to, among others, the Wall Street Journal, Israel was to assure Washington that the target of the attack would be Iranian military facilities and not – as previously speculated – Iran's oil or nuclear installations.
Main photo source: Mostafa Alkharouf/PAP