By Islam

A CIA officer stationed overseas has been charged with leaking highly sensitive documents detailing Israel’s alleged preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran. The charges, revealed on Wednesday, underscore the severity of the breach in U.S. intelligence.

According to The Washington Post, the accused, Asif W. Rahman, was apprehended in Cambodia on Tuesday and transferred to the U.S. territory of Guam. The following day, he was formally indicted in federal court in Northern Virginia, near the CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

Rahman is facing two counts under the Espionage Act for the intentional transmission of classified material. The leaked documents, labeled top secret, were unlawfully disclosed on Oct. 17 while Rahman was in Cambodia, per the report.

The FBI launched an investigation into the leak on Oct. 22 after the classified documents appeared online. These records reportedly detailed Israel’s contingency plans for a potential retaliatory strike against Iran and were first shared on the Telegram channel Middle East Spectator. The information was traced back to a source within the U.S. intelligence community.

The leaked documents, dated Oct. 15 and 16, began circulating online on Oct. 20, fueling speculation about their authenticity and implications.

Background Context

Tensions have been escalating in the region. On Oct. 1, Iran launched a ballistic missile attack in response to the assassinations of high-profile leaders. Targets included a Hamas political leader in Tehran in July and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in September.

Iran’s retaliatory strike involved nearly 200 missiles aimed at multiple sites in Israel, including a military facility. Despite the scale of the attack, no fatalities were reported.

This leak highlights the delicate and volatile nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the critical importance of safeguarding classified intelligence. The legal proceedings against Rahman are expected to draw significant attention due to the sensitive nature of the disclosed information and its potential repercussions on U.S.-Israel relations.