Leaked classified US intelligence documents about Israel.
The documents posted on Telegram describe what are believed to be IDF preparations for an attack on Iran.
CNN reported on October 19th that the US has launched an investigation after top-secret intelligence reports about Israel's preparations for potential attacks on Iran were leaked online.
The security lapse emerged amid unprecedented tensions between Israel and Iran, as the Jewish state vowed to retaliate against a series of missiles fired by Tehran earlier this month.
On October 18, two documents were posted to the anonymous Telegram channel Middle East Spectator, a channel that reports on regional events and criticizes Israel. The first document, apparently compiled by the Pentagon's Geospatial National Intelligence Agency, stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) "continued significant ammunition preparations and covert UAV operations on October 16, almost certainly for an attack on Iran."
The second document contains a detailed report on a "large-scale force deployment exercise" conducted by the Israeli Air Force on October 15-16.
An unnamed U.S. official confirmed the authenticity of the documents to CNN, describing the leak as "extremely concerning." The official told the network that an investigation is underway to determine who gained access to the classified files, which were ultimately posted on social media.
The Telegram channel that published the documents issued a statement on October 19th, saying they received the files from "an anonymous source on Telegram who declined to be identified." The channel further stated that they "have no connection to the original leaker."
On October 1st, Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the war in Gaza and the assassinations of senior members of the pro-Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
According to the IDF, most of the flying objects were intercepted. The only direct casualty of the attack was a Palestinian man in the West Bank, who was killed by a falling missile fragment.
Israel has not specified how or when it will retaliate, but some sources indicate that the IDF is planning to attack military targets in Iran, rather than nuclear or oil facilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated on October 17th that Israel would make "the final decision based on national interests."
