A CIA official has been charged with leaking highly classified U.S. documents regarding Israel’s potential plans to retaliate against Iran following a missile attack.
Asif W. Rahman, a former overseas CIA officer with top secret security clearance, was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia on Tuesday in connection to the leak, as reported by the New York Times.
The leak involves sensitive materials that surfaced online last month, revealing Israel’s likely response to Iran’s missile strike on October 1. The documents, prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, included satellite images related to Israel’s potential strike, as well as details about the missiles in Israel’s arsenal. These files were strictly for U.S. personnel and members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom — who hold the appropriate clearance.
The Middle East Spectator, which received the documents from an anonymous source, claimed it had no connection to the original leaker and could not verify their authenticity. The FBI had previously announced its investigation into the leak, stating it was collaborating with the Department of Defense and other intelligence agencies.
The indictment does not specify the exact nature of the leak but states that it occurred around October 17. The leaked intelligence was based on satellite imagery from October 15-16. Investigators believe the leak originated in Cambodia, as indicated in court documents.
Rahman, whose CIA role granted him access to sensitive compartmentalized information, is charged with two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. He is currently being transported to a federal court in Guam and will later face trial in the Eastern District of Virginia.