The Associated Press has learned that the United States is currently investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents. These documents contain assessments of Israel’s plans to launch an attack on Iran.
According to three U.S. officials, there are concerns regarding the legitimacy of these documents, although a fourth U.S. official believes that they appear to be authentic.
According to classified documents from the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, Israel was in the process of positioning military assets in preparation for a potential retaliatory strike following Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1.
These documents were shared among the “Five Eyes” alliance, which includes the United States, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The classified documents were shared on the Telegram messaging app and were initially reported by CNN and Axios. The officials, who requested anonymity due to their lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, revealed this information.
As part of the ongoing investigation, officials are also looking into the manner in which the documents were obtained. This includes determining whether it was a deliberate leak from a member of the U.S. intelligence community or if another method, such as hacking, was involved.
Furthermore, they are assessing whether any additional intelligence information may have been compromised. The officials are actively working to identify individuals who had access to the documents prior to their public release.
The Pentagon stated that it is aware of the reports regarding the documents but did not provide any additional comments.