article url

U.S. investigating major classified docs leak on potential Israeli strike against Iran: report

Mon Oct 21 2024
MXM Exclusive

Quick Hit:

The U.S. is investigating a major classified documents leak revealing Israel's military preparations for a potential strike on Iran. The leak, involving top-secret intelligence shared among the "Five Eyes" nations, has raised serious security concerns and prompted a high-level investigation into how the sensitive information was released.

Key Details:

  • The leaked documents, attributed to the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, detailed Israel's planned response to Iran's missile attack on October 1st.

  • The documents were marked as top secret and were accessible to the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

  • U.S. officials are investigating how the classified material ended up on the Telegram app, with suspicions ranging from an internal intelligence leak to a possible cyber breach.

Diving Deeper:

The United States has launched an investigation into the leak of classified documents that disclose Israel’s military preparations for a potential strike against Iran, according to a report by the Associated Press. The sensitive documents, which originated from the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, surfaced on the Telegram messaging app last week and revealed details about Israel's military movements in response to Iran’s missile strike on October 1st.

The classified information, accessible to the "Five Eyes" intelligence network—comprising the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia—highlighted Israel's efforts to position its military assets for a retaliatory strike against Iran. The leak has sparked major concerns within the U.S. government about how such sensitive material could be compromised.

House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the investigation during an interview on CNN, calling the leak "very concerning" and noting that there were "serious allegations" involved. Johnson mentioned that he would receive a briefing on the issue soon, adding that officials were closely monitoring the situation.

The leaked documents were first reported by CNN after being posted on Telegram. The documents were reportedly shared by a channel based in Tehran, which had previously posted pro-Iranian content, including memes supporting Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and material related to Tehran’s "Axis of Resistance," which includes terrorist groups backed by the Islamic republic. The Associated Press, citing anonymous officials, reported on the investigation into whether the leak was an intentional act by someone in the U.S. intelligence community or a result of a hack.

The leak has drawn comparisons to the case of Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, who earlier this year was charged with leaking highly classified military documents about Russia's war in Ukraine and other sensitive U.S. security matters. The leaked documents in the current case involve satellite imagery analysis, a method used in other intelligence leaks.

While the Pentagon acknowledged awareness of the reports, it has not provided further details on the incident. Israeli military officials also declined to comment when approached by the Associated Press. The scope and impact of the leak on U.S. and Israeli military strategies in the region remain uncertain, but the investigation continues to evolve as authorities assess potential breaches in national security.

Log In or Sign Up to get news that’s the most relevant to you.

Other Recent Articles