US intelligence leak exposes Israeli plans for possible attack on Iran

A series of secret US intelligence documents revealing possible Israeli plans for an attack on Iran have appeared online, following speculation of retaliation for the ballistic missile attack on Israel l October 1.

The documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating on Friday after being shared on Telegram by the Middle East Spectator. The leaks reportedly came from a source in the US intelligence community.

One of the documents, collected by the Defense Department’s National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, indicates that Israel’s plans involve the relocation of munitions.

“The Israeli Air Force continued to operate Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles (ALBMs), covered UAV operations, and conducted a second Large Force Employment Exercise (LFE) on 15 October of 2024, according to the image analysis,” the paper says.

He noted that since October 8, the Israeli Air Force has operated at least 16 Golden Horizon ALBMs and more than 40 IS02 (Rocks) ALBMs. The document said ALBM handling continued at Hatzerim airfield from 16 October.

Another document said it came from the National Security Agency and described the Israeli air force’s air-to-surface missile exercises, which are also believed to be preparing for an attack on Iran.

The United States is investigating the leak of the highly classified documents, according to CNN, which cited three people familiar with the matter. A source confirmed the authenticity of the documents. A US official described the leak as “deeply troubling,” CNN reported.

It also reported that a US official said there was an investigation into who had access to the alleged Pentagon Papers. Such a leak would automatically trigger an investigation by the FBI, along with the Pentagon and other US intelligence agencies, CNN said.

The leak could be an attempt to disrupt the Israeli operation, according to news website Axios.

US President Joe Biden said on Friday he knows how and when Israel will carry out its attack on Iran, as Tehran warned it would respond “decisively”.

Asked by reporters if he has a “good understanding” of what Israel’s response to Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack would entail, and when it would occur, Biden said: “Yes and yes.” .

Biden has previously called on Israel not to attack Iran’s nuclear or oil sites, attacks that could dramatically escalate the worsening conflict.

Iran said it carried out the ballistic attack in retaliation for the assassination of the former Hamas political leader in Tehran in July and the killing of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last month

Nearly 200 missiles were fired in the salvo, which hit several locations in Israel, including a military installation, but did not cause any deaths.

Exchanges of fire between Tel Aviv and Tehran have intensified this year after Israel bombed Iran’s embassy in Syria on April 1, killing senior military officials.

Iran responded to this attack two weeks later by launching hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel.

Almost all were intercepted by Israel, the US and its allies.

The Sabah Daily Gazette

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