Were U.S. Intelligence Documents Leaked To Stop Israeli Attack on Iran?
The publication by a Tehran-based Telegram channel on Oct. 18 of two classified documents, supposedly produced by U.S. intelligence, have caused great concern in both Washington and Israel. The two documents reportedly show detailed observations by U.S. intelligence of preparations at three Israeli air bases for strikes on Iran in reprisal for the latter’s Oct. 1 missile strike on Israel. The Middle East Spectator reported on its Telegram channel that the leak had come from an “anonymous source” within the U.S. intelligence community, with whom the media has no connection.
It is not clear, at this point, if the top secret documents reflect an actual operational plan, or a sophisticated deception operation being carried out by Israel and its Western allies. In any case, the information on the preparations and the activity at the military bases is very precise and detailed. While the authenticity of the documents has not been officially confirmed, and probably will never be, they’re being treated in the Israeli and other media as if they were authentic. Haaretz reported that Washington has apologized for the leak.
Some observers, including former Pentagon official Stephen Bryen, believe the Iranians were warned in advance in order to sabotage Israel’s plans for attacking Iran by making them known. In his view, the leak has done tremendous damage to Israel and by extension to the United States, although it is not known whether some in the Biden Administration were involved. “At minimum”, he writes, “the Israelis will have the opinion that U.S. intelligence is unreliable and penetrated”.
As for Tehran, President Pezeshkian is now in Kazan to participate in the 16th BRICS summit, and will meet with the leaders of a number of countries, including China, Egypt, India, South Africa and others, in addition to holding a bilateral with President Putin, whom he had just met two weeks ago. Iran, as we reported, has carried out intense diplomatic activity in the past weeks.
On the ground in Palestine, Israel has completely cut off for weeks now the entry of all aid to Northern Gaza, including food, water and medical supplies, and has forced the evacuation of one fourth of Lebanese territory as it continues to pound the capital with bombs. On Oct. 13, the U.S. State Department threatened to take measures if Netanyahu fails to lift the embargo on Gaza and to respect international law, but gave him a 30-day grace period to do so – which means after the U.S. elections, and after Kamala Harris has had time to claim the Democrats are defending Palestinian civilians. And just one day later, the Pentagon began the delivery to Israel of the THAAD air defense system, which will be operated by some 100 American military personnel.
