International
US investigates potential leak of classified Israel-Iran war plans via Telegram
The US is investigating a leak of classified documents detailing Israel’s military response to Iran. Middle East Spectator, where the documents were posted, has denied any ties to Iran or connection to the original source.
The United States is investigating a reported unauthorized release of classified documents detailing Israel’s military plans against Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the inquiry on 20 October 2024, following the appearance of top-secret documents on the Middle East Spectator Telegram channel.
The leak has raised significant concerns over US intelligence security, particularly due to the sensitive nature of the information related to Israeli defence preparations in response to a recent Iranian missile attack.
The leaked documents, which reportedly originated from the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, assess Israel’s military positioning in preparation for a potential strike against Iran.
Israel’s military activities were in response to a 1 October 2024 ballistic missile attack by Iran.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the documents were shared within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—comprising the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—and were first reported by CNN and Axios on 19 October, after being posted to Telegram on 17 October.
The documents in question appear to be highly classified, containing satellite imagery and analysis typical of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
They also bear similarities to previous leaks from Jack Teixeira, a former US Air National Guardsman, who pled guilty earlier this year to leaking sensitive documents related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Mike Johnson, speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, confirmed that an investigation is underway.
“There’s a classified-level briefing … we are following it closely,” he stated, though no further details were provided.
The White House declined to comment, directing questions to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which also refrained from offering a statement.
Spokespeople from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the FBI also withheld comment, although a US official confirmed the legitimacy of the documents to AP.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities are examining whether the leak originated from a deliberate insider or occurred via a cyber breach.
Efforts are being made to determine who had access to the documents and whether any other classified information may have been compromised.
Middle East Spectator, the Telegram channel where the documents were first posted, claimed the documents were obtained from “an informed source within the U.S. intelligence community.”
However, the channel later distanced itself from this claim, alleging that the documents first appeared in a smaller private Telegram group before being sent to them.
On 20 October, Middle East Spectator issued a formal statement addressing the leak and responding to media speculation.
“As a response to various media inquiries, we express that Middle East Spectator is not aware of any additional leaked classified U.S. documents,” the channel stated.
“We also reiterate that we have no connection to the original source, which we assume to be a whistleblower within the U.S. Department of Defense.”
The channel further clarified that the documents were first noticed in a private Telegram group with around 7,000 members, and that the documents reached Middle East Spectator via an anonymous direct message (DM), which had also been sent to other individuals and news outlets.
Additionally, the channel rejected claims made by outlets like Axios and The Jerusalem Post that it is affiliated with Iran. “Middle East Spectator is a tight-knit team of fully independent journalists,” the statement emphasised.
Despite US diplomatic efforts to prevent the Israel-Iran conflict from escalating, particularly in Lebanon, the US continues to provide Israel with substantial military and financial support.
In August 2024, the US Department of State announced an additional US$3.5 billion in funding for Israel, intended for the purchase of US-made weapons and military equipment.
This financial and military backing has been provided without any conditions, even as the US has urged Israel to seek opportunities for a ceasefire after the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and amidst the blocking of aid into Gaza and various apparent war crimes committed.
The Pentagon acknowledged the reports of the leaked documents but refrained from offering further comment.
The Israeli military has similarly remained silent on the matter. According to the leaked information, Israel had been moving military assets in preparation for a possible retaliatory strike following Iran’s missile attack.
Israeli officials have consistently stated that they will not allow Iran’s aggression to go unanswered, despite US pressure to avoid further escalation that could widen the conflict.
As the investigation unfolds, US authorities are working to assess the full scope of the breach and its potential implications for US and Israeli security. The leak has exacerbated concerns about internal security lapses in the US intelligence community, particularly in light of Israel’s already delicate situation in the Middle East.
