(Rightallegiance.com) – Authorities have arrested and charged a man suspected of leaking highly sensitive U.S. intelligence regarding Israel’s preparations for a potential military strike against Iran. According to a report by The New York Times, Asif William Rahman, a U.S. government employee, is alleged to have disclosed classified documents that detail Israel’s military movements and strategies in the wake of Iran’s aggressive ballistic missile attack on October 1.
Rahman, who reportedly worked for the CIA, was taken into custody on Tuesday in Cambodia by FBI agents. He was subsequently brought to federal court in Guam to face charges. The indictment, filed last week in Virginia, accuses Rahman of two counts related to the willful retention and transmission of national defense information. The investigation into the leak was launched earlier this year, as federal authorities worked to uncover the source of the unauthorized disclosures.
The leaked documents, attributed to the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, contain sensitive satellite imagery and analysis that illustrates Israel’s ongoing preparations for a military operation against Iran. The documents suggest that Israel was still in the process of positioning military assets for a potential strike. However, the leaked material does not specify the targets or the exact nature of the military response, according to U.S. officials.
“This is not a blueprint for an Israeli attack on Iran,” a senior U.S. defense official clarified during the investigation. “These are not Israeli war plans for Iran.”
The classified documents, marked top secret, were shared widely on the Telegram messaging platform in October. The original poster claimed the leaks were sourced from someone within the U.S. intelligence community and later from the U.S. Department of Defense. The images were reportedly compiled using satellite analysis and show Israeli warplanes preparing for a possible strike, with evidence of air refueling exercises taking place.
While the leaked information provided insight into Israel’s military readiness, it did not contain specifics on the targets or objectives of the potential strike. Nonetheless, the leak raised significant concerns about the security of sensitive defense intelligence and its potential impact on international relations.
The FBI and the U.S. Department of Defense immediately launched an investigation into the breach. The FBI issued a statement confirming that it was working closely with both the Department of Defense and other members of the U.S. intelligence community to address the issue. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no further comment,” the bureau added.
This incident has heightened concerns about the vulnerability of classified materials and the potential consequences of unauthorized disclosures. The leaked documents were marked with a high level of classification, intended only for authorized personnel within the U.S. and its intelligence partners, known as the “Five Eyes” alliance, which includes the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The arrest of Rahman marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to hold accountable those who expose sensitive national security information. Authorities are likely to continue probing the origins of the leak and the circumstances surrounding Rahman’s access to such classified materials.