US intelligence documents reveal Israel’s preparations to retaliate against Iran after a missile attack. Many questions are still open. US President Biden is worried.
US President Joe Biden is “deeply concerned” about the release of US intelligence information about Israel’s retaliatory plans against Iran, according to the White House. White House Communications Director John Kirby said it was not yet known exactly how the documents became public. The US Department of Defense is investigating the incident. It is not yet possible to say whether it is a leak or a hack. There are currently no signs that further documents of this type will be released into circulation.
Biden is “deeply concerned about any leak of classified information into the public, because that should not happen and it is unacceptable if it does happen,” Kirby said. The US President will follow the investigations closely.
On Saturday, US media reported for the first time that the US government was investigating a possible intelligence leak. The top secret documents, dated October 15th and 16th, have been circulating online since Friday and were initially published on the Telegram platform, reported the US broadcaster CNN. An unnamed person familiar with the matter confirmed the authenticity of the documents, the broadcaster said. According to the Axios portal, the corresponding Telegram account regularly publishes pro-Iranian content.
Documents are said to show Israel’s preparations
Two weeks ago, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired around 200 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state. Israel then announced retaliation. It remains unclear when and how Israel will strike back. According to Axios, the documents that have now been published describe “in detail measures that have been carried out at several Israeli air force bases in recent days.”
The documents also showed that, according to US intelligence, the Israeli Air Force carried out a large exercise in which reconnaissance aircraft and probably also fighter jets took part. “The alleged intelligence report also details preparations in Israeli drone units for an attack on Iran,” Axios continued. A US government official told both Axios and CNN that the alleged leak was “extremely concerning.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
