Secret US intelligence leaked, documents show Israel’s plans for Iran

New Delhi:

As The New York Times reported, two top-secret US intelligence documents have been leaked that allegedly reveal Israel’s military preparations for a possible attack on Iran. The documents, which come from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) – “responsible for analyzing images and information collected by American spy satellites” – provide insight into Israeli military exercises and operational readiness.

The two documents, dated October 15 and 16, were distributed on Telegram by accounts largely associated with pro-Iranian views. They provide detailed analysis of satellite images showing Israeli military exercises that appear to be preparing for a retaliatory strike against Iran. The possible attack comes amid escalating tensions following an Iranian missile fire on October 1, which was in retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack.

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One of the documents is titled “Israel: Air Force continues to prepare for attack on Iran” and describes recent Israeli exercises that appear to be rehearsing a possible military operation against Iran. These preparations reportedly include aerial refueling operations, search and rescue missions and the repositioning of missile systems in anticipation of possible Iranian attacks. The second document reveals Israeli efforts to move ammunition and other military assets to strategic locations.

Although the documents describe Israeli military movements and exercises, they do not themselves provide satellite imagery. US intelligence obtained from these images suggests that Israel is preparing for an attack. However, it is unclear whether these documents reveal the full extent of Israel’s plans for Iran.

US response

The leaks reportedly caused immediate concern among the US government. U.S. officials are divided over the severity of the leak, with some downplaying the impact because the documents do not reveal new American capabilities. But others are alarmed by the revelation of Israel’s sensitive military plans, especially at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.

When President Joe Biden was asked during a recent trip to Germany whether he was aware of Israel’s planned attack on Iran and its targets, he responded briefly with “yes and yes” but declined to elaborate.

While the exact source of the leak remains unknown, early indications suggest that the documents may have been stolen by a low-level US government employee. A joint investigation by the Pentagon, U.S. intelligence agencies and the FBI is underway to determine how the information was leaked and whether more documents could follow.