Israeli retaliation leak

On 18 October 2024, two classified U.S. intelligence documents detailing Israel's preparations for a retaliatory strike against Iran were leaked and disseminated via the Telegram channel ''Middle East Spectator''. The materials, originating from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), included satellite imagery analysis, Israeli Air Force exercise plans, drone strike routes, and the relocation of advanced munitions. One document referenced Israel's alleged possession of nuclear weapons, marking the first official U.S. acknowledgment of a capability long suspected by the international community but never confirmed by either government. The leak underscored close U.S. intelligence collaboration with Israel, including satellite surveillance of Israeli military activity, while exposing sensitive data shared within the Five Eyes alliance (FVEY).

The disclosure prompted an immediate U.S. investigation, leading to the indictment of Asif William Rahman (born 18 September 1990), a CIA analyst with top-secret clearance, on 7 November 2024. Rahman, a Yale University graduate and Cincinnati, Ohio native, pleaded guilty in a Virginia federal court to unlawfully retaining and transmitting classified defense information. Security officials confirmed the documents' authenticity, noting parallels to prior leaks by Jack Teixeira during the Russo-Ukrainian War.

The breach drew condemnation from U.S. officials as a "deeply concerning" national security risk, while Israeli authorities privately acknowledged the severity of the compromise. Analysts warned of strained U.S.-Israel relations amid ongoing tensions with Iran and its proxies, citing risks to intelligence-sharing frameworks. Provided by Wikipedia