The United States is currently investigating a serious leak of highly classified intelligence regarding Israel’s potential retaliation plans against Iran, according to three sources familiar with the matter. One source has confirmed the authenticity of the leaked documents, which have raised significant concerns among U.S. officials.
The leak is described as “deeply concerning” by a U.S. official, who emphasized the implications it could have on national security and diplomatic relations. The documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online on Friday after being posted on Telegram by an account named “Middle East Spectator.” These documents are marked as top secret and carry indications that they are intended exclusively for the U.S. and its “Five Eyes” allies—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The leaked materials detail preparations that Israel is allegedly making for a strike against Iran. One document, reportedly compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), suggests that Israel is in the process of repositioning munitions in anticipation of military action. Another document attributed to the National Security Agency (NSA) outlines exercises conducted by the Israeli Air Force involving air-to-surface missiles, which are also believed to be related to preparations for a potential strike on Iran.
The ongoing investigation is focusing on identifying who had access to the leaked Pentagon documents. Any breach of this nature automatically triggers inquiries from the FBI, in collaboration with the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies. As of now, the FBI has declined to comment on the matter.
This leak occurs at a particularly sensitive juncture in U.S.-Israeli relations and is likely to provoke anger among Israeli officials, who have been gearing up for a response to an Iranian missile barrage that occurred on October 1. Notably, one document hints at something Israel has consistently refused to confirm publicly: the existence of nuclear weapons within its arsenal. However, it also indicates that U.S. intelligence has not observed any signs that Israel intends to deploy such weapons against Iran.
Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and retired CIA officer, characterized the leak as a serious breach if it is indeed true that Israeli tactical plans in response to the October 1 attack have been compromised. He warned that such incidents could jeopardize future coordination between the U.S. and Israel, stating that “trust is a key component in the relationship,” and that any erosion of that trust could have long-term consequences.
The National Security Council has referred inquiries to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Pentagon, both of which have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. Efforts have also been made to reach out to the NSA for a statement regarding the leak.
Another U.S. official characterized the two leaked documents as “bad, but not horrible,” expressing concern about the possibility of additional, more damaging materials being leaked. The circumstances surrounding the leak remain unclear, and it is not yet known whether the documents were hacked or intentionally leaked.
The United States is already on high alert regarding Iranian hacking campaigns, with intelligence agencies reporting in August that Iran had previously accessed documents belonging to Donald Trump’s campaign. This ongoing investigation follows a significant leak of U.S. intelligence last year, which had strained relations with various allies, including South Korea and Ukraine. That incident involved a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman posting highly classified information on the social media platform Discord, prompting widespread concern over the security of sensitive government information.
As the investigation unfolds, the U.S. government is taking steps to assess the damage caused by this leak and to safeguard its intelligence-sharing relationships, particularly with allies in the Middle East. The implications of this incident could reverberate through diplomatic channels, affecting not only U.S.-Israeli cooperation but also broader geopolitical stability in the region. With tensions high between the U.S. and Iran, this situation underscores the critical importance of secure intelligence operations and the trust that underpins international relations.
