In a surprising twist, two highly classified US intelligence documents have leaked, allegedly revealing Israel’s military preparations for a heavy strike on Iran, the New York Times reported.
The documents, originating from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) – “responsible for analyzing images and information collected by American spy satellites” – offer insights into Israeli military exercises and operational readiness.
The two documents, dated October 15 and 16, were circulated on Telegram by accounts largely associated with pro-Iran sentiments.
They give detailed analyses of satellite images showing Israel’s military exercises, which appear to be in preparation for a retaliatory strike on Iran.
The potential strike comes in the wake of increasing tensions following an Iranian missile barrage on October 1, itself a retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack.
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One of the documents is titled “Israel: Air Force Continues Preparations for Strike on Iran” and outlines recent Israeli exercises that seem to rehearse a potential military operation against Iran.
Details of documents
These preparations reportedly include air-to-air refueling operations, search-and-rescue missions, and the repositioning of missile systems in anticipation of potential Iranian strikes.
The second document reveals Israeli efforts to move munitions and other military assets to strategic locations.
Although the documents explain Israeli military movements and exercises, they do not provide satellite images themselves.
The US intelligence gathered from these images suggests that Israel is gearing up for a strike, but it is unclear whether these documents reveal the full scope of Israel’s plans for Iran.
The classified document leaks have reportedly prompted immediate concern within the US officials.
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They are divided over the severity of the leak, with some downplaying its impact given that the documents do not reveal new American capabilities.
Meanwhile, others are alarmed by the exposure of Israel’s sensitive military plans, particularly at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Biden’s response
President Joe Biden, when questioned during a recent trip to Germany about whether he was aware of Israel’s planned strike on Iran and its targets, responded with a brief “Yes and yes” but declined to elaborate.
