US Official Indicted for Allegedly Leaking Classified Documents on Israeli Attack Plans Against Iran

An official within the United States government faces charges for the alleged disclosure of classified materials that reportedly detail Israeli strategies for a retaliatory strike against Iran. In October, Israel conducted air strikes against Iran, targeting military installations across multiple regions. This action was taken in response to a volley of missiles launched by Tehran several weeks prior. The classified documents that were allegedly leaked reportedly included the United States’ evaluation of these plans preceding the attack, alongside information regarding the preparatory movements of Israeli military assets. Asif Rahman, the official in question, was apprehended in Cambodia on Tuesday and subsequently transported to federal court in Guam to answer to the charges, as per the indictment reviewed by US media outlets. The New York Times reported that Mr. Rahman was employed by the CIA overseas and possessed a top-secret security clearance. He was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, facing two counts of intentionally transmitting classified information. While the specific documents Mr. Rahman is accused of leaking were not detailed in the court filings, a source verified to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that these documents pertained to the Israeli attack plans. In October, an Iranian-aligned Telegram account published two documents that seemed to originate from the US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, an agency within the Department of Defense. These documents, designated as top secret, were authorized for sharing among the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which comprises the US, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The documents seemed to be derived from satellite data acquired between 15 and 16 October. The initial document bore the title: “Israel: Air Force Continues Preparations for Strike on Iran and Conducts a Second Large-Force Employment Exercise.” It detailed the handling of ballistic and air-to-surface missiles. The second document was titled: “Israel: Defense Forces Continue Key Munitions Preparations and Covert UAV Activity Almost Certainly for a Strike on Iran.” This document addressed Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle movements. Israel executed its retaliatory strike against Iran on 26 October, following weeks of deliberation on how to respond to the missiles launched by Tehran on 1 October. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it targeted military locations in multiple regions, and later reports indicated that an Iranian missile production facility had been struck. Iranian authorities reported that one civilian and four soldiers died in these attacks. Iran initially launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel as a response to the assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The US Department of Justice has been contacted for a statement. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.