FBI arrests suspected leaker of US intelligence documents related to Israel’s attack plans against Iran

CNN
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The Justice Department has charged a man for allegedly leaking top-secret U.S. intelligence about Israel’s retaliatory plans against Iran, according to court documents and a person familiar with the case.

According to court documents, Asif W. Rahman was charged last Thursday with intentionally storing and transmitting national defense information. He was arrested in Cambodia on Tuesday and will initially appear in court in Guam, although the department has asked a federal judge to transfer him to Virginia for trial.

Rahman was employed by the CIA, according to a person familiar with his employment. Court documents indicate he was employed by the U.S. government.

Rahman had a top secret security clearance and could access confidential, segregated information.

The New York Times first reported the charges against Rahman.

The documents were published in mid-October by a Telegram account called the Middle East Spectator. They are marked top secret and have markings indicating that they are only visible to the US and its “Five Eyes” allies – Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

CNN previously reported that one of the documents, purportedly compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, discussed a plan to transport Israel’s ammunition. The other document, purportedly from the National Security Agency, describes Israeli Air Force exercises using air-to-surface missiles.

One of the documents also suggests something that Israel has never publicly acknowledged: that the country has nuclear weapons. The document said the US had seen no signs that Israel planned to use a nuclear weapon against Iran.

This story has been updated with additional background information.