US government is facing serious concerns following a leak of highly classified documents that outline Israel’s military preparations for a potential strike against Iran. Intelligence officials have described the leak as “deeply concerning,” with the sensitive materials posted online to the Telegram platform and initially reported by CNN and Axios.
The documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online on Friday through an account named “Middle East Spectator.” Labeled as top secret, they contain information intended solely for the US and its “Five Eyes” allies—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Among the leaked documents is one from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency detailing Israel’s logistics for munitions movement in anticipation of an attack on Iran. Another document from the National Security Agency discusses Israeli air force exercises with air-to-surface missiles, which are believed to be linked to potential military actions against Iran.
As the investigation unfolds, US officials are scrutinizing who had access to these classified documents. Such a leak typically triggers an inquiry by the FBI, which collaborates with the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies. Although the FBI has not commented, its involvement highlights the leak’s gravity.
This incident occurs amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran following Iranian missile attacks on October 1, prompting Israel to prepare for retaliation. The leaked documents are likely to anger Israeli officials who prioritize confidentiality regarding military strategies. Notably, one document claims Israel possesses nuclear weapons, a point Israel has historically neither confirmed nor denied. However, it indicates that US intelligence has not detected any intentions from Israel to use these weapons against Iran.
Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East and retired CIA officer, remarked on the serious implications of the leak, emphasizing that such breaches undermine trust essential to US-Israeli relations.
Officials are concerned that additional sensitive information may be in circulation, and investigations are focused on whether the documents were hacked or deliberately leaked. This incident echoes a previous significant leak of US intelligence last year that strained relations with allies like South Korea and Ukraine, in which a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman was found to have shared classified information on Discord.
