FBI confirms investigation into leak of top-secret documents about Israeli strike plans for Iran

Former intelligence officials say the documents were most likely a leak from a government employee with access to the files, rather than a hack into US government classified servers.

The main headquarters of the FBI, the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building.

The FBI is investigating a leak of top-secret U.S. intelligence documents that show Israel military preparations for an expected strike on Iran, the agency confirmed on Tuesday.

The two leaked reports were prepared last week and included classified information supplied by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which analyses satellite imagery, and the National Security Agency, which conducts communications intercepts.

The FBI said in a statement it was “working closely with our partners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.” The agency investigates violations of the Espionage Act, which makes it illegal to retain or disclose national-defence information, and other statutes governing handling of classified information.

The reports describe Israel’s planning for a possible Iran attack, including the types of aircraft and munitions its military could use in an attack, which the documents say could come without additional warning.

Screenshots of the documents began circulating Friday on the Telegram messaging app. Neither document indicates Israel’s potential targets.

— ❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷/🇮🇱 EXCLUSIVE: One of our sources in the U.S. intelligence community has shared with us an extremely sensitive top secret U.S. intelligence document, dated October 15-16, detailing Israeli preparations for an extensive strike inside Iran: pic.twitter.com/pH53YiJ390

— Middle East Spectator (@Spectator_MENA) October 17, 2024

Former intelligence officials said it appeared the documents were most likely a leak from a government employee with access to the files, rather than a hack into U.S. government classified servers. While the material is designated as top secret, a range of officials across several agencies likely would have had access to it, they said.

On Monday, John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said the administration was “not exactly sure” of the source of the leak. There were no signs that more documents beyond the original two that appeared online had been compromised, the White House said.

During a media briefing Tuesday about election threats, a U.S. intelligence official said there is no apparent connection between the leak and foreign election influence efforts.

“At this time, there is no indication that the two are connected in any way,” the official said. Pressed whether that meant that intelligence agencies had ruled out a hack as the source of the disclosure, the official declined to answer.

The leak comes as Israeli officials say they are planning a retaliatory attack on Iran and the Biden administration is renewing its push to bring an end to the fighting in Gaza.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the U.S. intelligence community, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the FBI probe.

Executive branch officials have updated Congress on the leak. The House Intelligence Committee received a briefing Friday and was scheduled to get another Tuesday, a congressional official said. Those are primarily for committee staff, as most lawmakers are out of Washington on pre-election recess.

Dow Jones