US scrambles to identify leaker of secret documents on Israel’s planned attack on Iran as FBI probes intelligence gap

The FBI is conducting a high-level investigation into the leak of two highly classified US intelligence documents detailing Israeli military preparations for a retaliatory strike against Iran. The leak, which appeared on messaging platform Telegram last week, has alarmed US officials at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as growing regional instability. The documents, marked top secret, appear to have been prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), based on satellite imagery and intelligence from media October

The breach, which the FBI suspects may have come from a government insider, is being treated with the utmost seriousness, given its potential to strain relations between the US and Israel. “The FBI is investigating the alleged leak of classified documents and is working closely with our partners in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community,” the bureau said in a statement Tuesday. While no conclusions have been drawn, US officials familiar with the matter noted that at least one of the documents appears to have been scanned from a printed briefing book, potentially narrowing down the number of people responsible.

The leaked documents detail Israeli preparations for a military response to a missile barrage from Iran on October 1, the second such attack in the past six months. The documents include assessments of Israeli Air Force exercises involving fighter jets and air-to-surface missiles, as well as the movement of advanced munitions in preparation for a strike against Iranian targets. Israel has recently stepped up its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, raising further concerns of a wider conflict with Iran.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Monday that US officials are still working to determine whether the leak was the result of a hack or an internal breach. “We’re not exactly sure how these documents got into the public domain,” Kirby said. “The president remains deeply concerned about any leak of classified information into the public domain. This should not happen, and it is unacceptable when it does.”

The documents were first shared by an account called “Middle East Spectator,” which posted them on Telegram. The account has denied any direct connection to the source of the documents, speculating that the leak may have originated from a whistleblower in the US Department of Defense. A US official said that while the contents of the documents are not necessarily surprising to those familiar with US surveillance of its allies, their release poses a significant risk to relations with Israel .

The FBI’s investigation is focused on identifying who had access to the documents and how they were leaked. Given the sensitive nature of the documents, officials say the group of individuals who printed or manipulated the material is relatively small. Investigators are working with Pentagon officials and intelligence agencies to trace the chain of custody and determine whether the breach could have come from the US government.

The leak comes at a particularly precarious time for US-Israel relations as the Biden administration navigates a complex web of conflicts in the Middle East, including Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon , and the broader threat of escalation with Iran. Any public disclosure of US surveillance of Israeli military activities risks undermining trust between the two nations.

The leaked documents are marked for distribution only in the US and its “Five Eyes” allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. They include detailed information on Israeli military activities, including air force exercises and ammunition movements, reportedly in preparation for a retaliatory strike against Iran. While U.S. officials acknowledge that surveillance of allies is standard practice, leaking this information publicly could seriously damage diplomatic efforts, especially as the U.S. tries to defuse the multiple conflicts in which Israel is currently involved.

Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter on Tuesday, calling the leaks “devastating” for Israel and speculating that the breach may have originated within the US Department of Defense. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Israel has been severely damaged and compromised by this. War strategies and data. Probably came from the Department of Defense. YOU MUST FIND THE LEAKER!”

The leak has revived concerns about the security of classified US intelligence, echoing a similar breach last year when Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira leaked sensitive military information on Discord. This leak strained US relations with key allies and led the Pentagon to restrict access to classified materials. Teixeira, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison, left an electronic trail that allowed investigators to quickly identify him. However, this latest breach is expected to be more difficult to trace, as the documents appear to have been scanned and shared anonymously.

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