Washington, October 20 — The United States is currently investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents concerning Israel’s plans to conduct a military strike against Iran, according to three US officials who spoke with The Associated Press.
A fourth official confirmed the authenticity of the documents, which are attributed to the US Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. These documents indicate that Israel is actively positioning military assets in preparation for a potential strike, following a significant ballistic missile attack from Iran on October 1.
The documents were classified as top secret and were initially shared on the messaging platform Telegram, with CNN and Axios being the first to report on the situation. The documents were intended for sharing among the “Five Eyes” alliance—comprising the US, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The ongoing investigation aims to uncover how the documents were accessed and disseminated, focusing on whether the leak was intentional by a member of the US intelligence community or if it resulted from other means, such as a cyber breach. Officials are also assessing whether any other sensitive intelligence was compromised.
As part of this inquiry, investigators are trying to determine who had access to the documents before their online publication. The emergence of these documents comes as the US has urged Israel to capitalize on the recent elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and pursue a ceasefire in Gaza. The US has also cautioned Israel against escalating military operations in northern Lebanon, which could trigger a broader regional conflict.
In response to the leaks, the Pentagon acknowledged awareness of the situation but refrained from providing additional comments.
