Leak of classified documents on Israel’s preparations to attack Iran
Officials in the US say they are investigating the leak of classified documents that assess Israel’s plans to attack Iran, the AP reported. The leaked documents, attributed to the US Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, were posted on Telegram on Friday.
Axios news site, which first reported the leak, said the release of the highly sensitive material comes as Israel completes weeks of preparation for a promised attack on Iran following the Iranian missile barrage fired at Israel on October 1.
According to Axios, the documents detail measures taken in recent days at several Israeli airbases, including the transfer of advanced munitions in preparation for a forthcoming Iran attack. The documents also contain reports on detailed preparations by Israel’s drone units for the attack.
The Middle East Spectator Telegram channel, which released the documents, said they were provided by a source in the US intelligence community.
Leak of US intelligence on Israel-Iran under investigation: House speaker
US House Speaker Mike Johnson says there’s an investigation under way into the leak of classified US intelligence documents related to Israel’s preparations to launch an attack on Iran.
Speaking to CNN, Johnson said: “There’s a classified-level briefing … we are following it closely.” He did not provide details on the briefing.
The documents first appeared online Friday via a channel on Telegram, claiming they had been leaked by someone in the US intelligence community, then later the US Defense Department. The information appeared entirely gathered through the use of satellite image analysis.
Iran says Israeli military sites in its sights
Tehran says it has pinpointed all of the military targets in Israel it will strike should it launch an attack on Iran, its top diplomat says.
“We will not leave any attack against Iran unanswered and Israel will receive a proportionate response. We have identified all our targets there and a similar attack will be made on their targets,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with Turkey’s NTV.
He specifically noted any strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.
“Any attack on Iran will be considered crossing a red line for us. Such an attack will not go unanswered. The necessary response will be given to any attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities or any similar attack.”
Netanyahu blames Iran for drone ‘assassination attempt'
Hours after that drone attack that targeted the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the northern Israeli city of Caesarea, Netanyahu issued a statement in which he said ‘the attempt by Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake’.
He also went on to say, ‘I say to Iran and its proxies and its axis of evil, anyone who tries to harm Israel’s citizens will pay a heavy price.’
Shortly after that statement was issued, unnamed diplomatic sources close to Netanyahu – which were quoted in Israeli media outlets – also blamed Iran for what they called the assassination attempt against Netanyahu, saying there would be retaliation for the attack.
All of this comes at a time of heightened tension when the region is on tenterhooks waiting for the promised Israeli response to the Iranian missile attack on Israel on October 1. Israel has vowed to strike back and strike back hard.
The scene following a drone attack from Lebanon in Caesarea, Israel, on Saturday
Attack on Netanyahu’s home may prompt targeting of Iran’s supreme leader
Jean-Marc Rickli, head of global risk at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, says the fact the Israeli leader is pointing the finger at Iran for the attack on his residence in Caesarea could turn into a major escalation.
“If we look at the equivalent of Benjamin Netanyahu being attacked by a drone being considered as an assassination attempt … if we make a parallel with Iran the legitimate target could be the supreme leader,” Rickli told Al Jazeera.
“Israel is trying to establish deterrence against Iran’s proxies and surrogates in the region, not only Hezbollah but the Houthis and other groups. The Israelis are signalling they’re ready to apply what they have done with Hamas and what they started to do with Hezbollah – which is decapitating first the heads of these movements – and then trying to neutralise these movements.”
