US leaked intelligence information about planned Israeli attack on Iran | The Jewish Press – JewishPress.com | David Israel | Tishri 18, 5785 – Sunday, October 20, 2024

Last week we quoted diplomatic sources telling the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar that the United States had sent a message to the Lebanese government regarding Israeli military plans, specifically that Israel was planning a limited operation in southern Lebanon (Report: US has betrayed Lebanon over impending Israeli invasion).

On Saturday, The New York Times revealed the leak of two top-secret U.S. intelligence documents detailing recent satellite images showing Israel’s military preparations for a possible attack on Iran. According to the Times, this betrayal of a close ally should be excused because it underscores American fears about Israel’s intentions.

In other words, the leaks were intentional and designed to curb Israeli retaliatory plans against a country it had twice attacked with long-range cruise missiles.

President Biden was in Germany on Friday and was asked about his knowledge of the timing of Israel’s planned retaliation and the specific goals it intended to pursue. He answered in the affirmative and said, “Yes, and yes,” but when asked to elaborate, he said, “No, and no.” To be honest, I had a bad feeling watching this flippant exchange.

Let’s just hope Bibi wasn’t so blunt when he put this information in the hands of a man suffering from dementia on set.

According to CNN, the leaked documents dated October 15 and 16 began circulating online on Friday after they were posted on Telegram by an account called “Middle East Spectator.” The broadcaster published this note on Saturday:

The conclusion of the above post is: “We reject attempts by various Zionist and American media outlets to intimidate the Middle East Spectator reporters who are exercising their full and inalienable right to freedom of the press.” Free Palestine” best identifies the channel as a pro-Iranian media .

Barak Ravid wrote on Saturday that the timing of the leak, as Israel was finalizing its preparations for retaliation against Iran in response to the Oct. 1 rocket attack, was seen as an attempt to influence or disrupt it. He quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Israeli security authorities were aware of the leak and were taking it very seriously.

According to Ravid, the report describes actions taken in recent days at several Israeli Air Force facilities, including the relocation of sophisticated munitions that, as the report stated, were intended for a possible attack on Iran.

It also mentions that US intelligence agencies have indicated that the IAF conducted a significant exercise last week, using reconnaissance aircraft and possibly fighter jets in preparation for a possible offensive against Iran. The report also highlighted the readiness of Israeli drone units for an operation against Iran.

According to the Times, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency recently produced the two documents. The agency’s task is to evaluate images and data from American reconnaissance satellites.

One of the documents is titled “Israel: The Air Force Continues to Prepare for an Attack on Iran” and describes recent exercises that appear to simulate aspects of a possible attack. The other document details Israel’s adjustments to the positioning of its missiles and weapons in anticipation of possible retaliation from Iran.

In addition, one of the documents points to a fact that Israel consistently does not admit publicly: its nuclear weapons. The document goes on to say that the United States has observed no signs that Israel intends to use a nuclear weapon against Iran.

According to CNN, as the Pentagon investigates the leak, it is looking into who had access to the documents. Any leak of this magnitude would automatically trigger an investigation by the FBI, along with the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies. The FBI declined to comment.