Following serious leaks in the past hours about anticipated Israeli plans to strike Iranian targets in response to an Iranian missile attack earlier this month, U.S. officials confirmed that Washington has launched an investigation.
Three American officials revealed that an investigation has been initiated to determine how these classified documents, detailing Israel’s plans to attack Iran, were leaked.
“They Appear Authentic”
A fourth U.S. official noted that these documents appear to be genuine, according to the Associated Press today, Sunday. Additionally, one of the officials clarified that the investigation will also explore how these documents were obtained and whether a member of the U.S. intelligence community deliberately leaked them or if they were acquired through other means, such as hacking or cyberattacks.
The investigation will also include a review and scrutiny of the possibility of breaches of other intelligence information. Furthermore, the official mentioned that as part of this investigation, efforts are underway to identify who had access to the documents before they were released.
The leaked documents, attributed to the CIA and the NSA, revealed that Israel continues to mobilize its military assets for a retaliatory strike against the Iranian ballistic missile attack on October 1, with the assistance of the “Five Eyes” alliance, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. These documents, classified as “top secret,” were shared through Telegram accounts yesterday and were later reported by CNN and Axios.
It is noteworthy that these leaks came at a highly sensitive time, as tensions escalate in the Middle East with the possibility of a regional war between Israel and Iran. They also coincide with international concerns about military escalation in the Middle East, as the world anticipates Israel’s response while Israel continues its operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
