Official Arrested For Allegedly Leaking Docs On Israeli
In a significant national security breach, a CIA official has been arrested and charged with leaking classified U.S. intelligence regarding Israel’s planned strike on Iran. According to The New York Times, the official, identified as Asif W. Rahman, was detained on Tuesday in Cambodia following a federal indictment issued last week.
Rahman, who worked overseas for the CIA, faced arraignment in Guam on two counts of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information, violations that could carry severe legal consequences.
Rahman’s alleged leak pertains to sensitive intelligence gathered by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), which is responsible for analyzing satellite imagery. The material, intended strictly for members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—included satellite observations of Israeli military preparations.
These activities, reportedly in anticipation of an imminent attack on Iran, showed movement of aircraft, munitions, and other operational components. The information was published last month on a pro-Iran Telegram channel, alerting U.S. intelligence officials to a leak of top-secret materials.
The timing of the breach has raised concerns among intelligence officials, as Israel had reportedly been preparing this strike in response to a series of ballistic missile attacks by Iran in early October. Those attacks saw over 180 missiles launched into Israel, triggering air raid sirens and sending citizens to bomb shelters across the nation. Israel’s retaliatory strike, now compromised by the leak, was aimed at countering the aggression and safeguarding its security amidst escalating tensions with Tehran.
Rahman, who held top-secret clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), allegedly accessed and transmitted these critical details. Given the level of his clearance, his access to high-stakes intelligence involving U.S.-allied defense strategies underscores the gravity of this breach. The materials allegedly leaked offered detailed insights into Israel’s tactical preparations, potentially putting the operation at risk and compromising the safety of Israeli forces.
The implications of Rahman’s actions have far-reaching consequences, raising questions about intelligence security and the stability of allied operations. As the investigation unfolds, this breach underscores a persistent challenge for intelligence agencies—ensuring the integrity of sensitive information that, if exposed, can disrupt international military plans and put lives at risk.
Security officials are now focused on assessing the full impact of the leak, with particular attention to understanding Rahman’s motivations and whether any external influences were involved. The incident also highlights vulnerabilities within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, prompting discussions about tightening access to sensitive operational details.
For Israel and its allies, this breach represents more than just a security lapse; it underscores the dangers posed when intelligence is exposed, potentially upending the delicate balance of strategic operations in one of the world’s most volatile regions.