A leak of classified US intelligence documents has raised alarms regarding Israel's potential plans for a military strike on Iran. The leaked assessments suggest that Israel is preparing advanced missile systems for long-range attacks, amidst heightened tensions following a ballistic missile attack by Iran on Israel.
US Intelligence Leak Reveals Israel's Potential Military Plans Against Iran
US Intelligence Leak Reveals Israel's Potential Military Plans Against Iran
Recent leaked documents indicate that Israel is preparing for a long-range strike against Iran, igniting concerns within the US government.
US investigators are currently assessing the circumstances surrounding the recent leak of two highly classified intelligence documents that appeared on the messaging platform Telegram. These documents allegedly contain an assessment from the US regarding Israel's preparations for a potential attack on Iran, based on satellite imagery and other intelligence sources.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, expressed President Joe Biden's deep concern over the leak, noting that officials have yet to confirm whether it resulted from a hack or internal release. This comes as Israel has pledged a strong retaliation following Iran's mass ballistic missile strike against Israel on October 1, an action Iran stated was a reprisal for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The authenticity of the documents has been supported by military analysts, who find the jargon and terms used within consistent with authentic classified materials. The documents, labeled "Top Secret," were reportedly distributed to intelligence agencies within the Five Eyes alliance, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The classified assessment outlines Israel's preparations for using Air Launched Ballistic Missile (ABLM) systems named Golden Horizon and Rocks. The Rocks system, developed by Israeli firm Rafael, is designed for diverse target strikes, while Golden Horizon likely refers to the Blue Sparrow missile system, which boasts a range of around 2,000 kilometers. Such long-range capabilities could allow Israel to sidestep overflying regional countries like Jordan when targeting Iran.
However, critical details are notably absent from these documents, including specific targets that Israel intends to strike in Iran and the timing of any potential attack. The US government has consistently opposed strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities or oil installations, leading analysts to suggest that military targets may include bases associated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Despite heightened expectations for an Israeli response, recent developments hint at delays, potentially influenced by US concerns over escalating tensions ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. Speculation persists that the leak might have been intentional, aimed at undermining Israel's planned retaliation.
If the documents are confirmed genuine, they underscore an ongoing dynamic of espionage even among allied nations, revealing that the US actively monitors its close ally Israel. As preparations for a potential military confrontation progress, escalating tensions in the Middle East remain imminent.
