FBI agent in New York / Reuters
The FBI has launched an investigation following the public leak of two top-secret documents describing Israel’s preparations for a possible retaliatory strike against Iran, Reuters reports. On Tuesday, the bureau confirmed that it is actively cooperating with the US Department of Defence and the intelligence community to clarify the circumstances.
“The FBI is investigating the alleged leak of classified documents and is working closely with our partners in the Department of Defence and the intelligence community,” the agency said in a statement.
White House spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that it has not yet been determined whether the leak was the result of a cyber attack or was organised from within. According to him, US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the results of the investigation. “We can’t say for sure how these documents got into the public domain,” Kirby told reporters.
President Biden is “deeply concerned about any leak of classified information into the public domain. This should not happen, and it is unacceptable,” he added.
The documents, allegedly prepared by the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, contained data on Israeli air force and navy training based on satellite images from 15-16 October. They began circulating last week via the Telegram messenger.
Israel is preparing a response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on 1 October, the second direct attack by Tehran on Israel in the last six months. The attack heightened tensions amid Israel’s campaign in Gaza and Lebanon, which escalated after the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
On Sunday, US House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that the investigation was ongoing.
