A former CIA official, Asif William Rahman, has been charged with leaking highly classified U.S. intelligence documents detailing Israel's potential plans to counterstrike Iran following a missile attack. Rahman, who held a top-secret security clearance and worked overseas for the CIA, was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia and is being brought to the U.S. territory of Guam to face charges. He has been indicted on two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The leaked materials, which began circulating online in late October, reportedly included detailed satellite imagery and assessments from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) concerning Israel's planned military response. The documents outlined sensitive information, such as the types of missiles and munitions Israel might use, as well as the movement of military assets and preparations for an attack on Iran. This intelligence was meant to be restricted to individuals with proper clearance within the United States and the allied "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing partnership, comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Rahman's role at the CIA granted him access to sensitive compartmentalized information. The FBI launched an investigation last month in coordination with the Department of Defense and other intelligence agencies to identify the source of the leaks. His arrest marks a significant escalation in efforts to crack down on the unauthorized disclosure of classified material.
Rahman's case comes shortly after another high-profile intelligence breach involving Jack Teixeira, a former Air National Guardsman sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified documents related to the war in Ukraine. The Justice Department has highlighted both cases as examples of the grave national security risks posed by such leaks.
The leaked documents pertaining to Israel reportedly surfaced just days before the country's counterstrike against Iranian missile and military sites. The retaliatory strike by Israel followed an October 1 attack in which Iran fired approximately 180 ballistic missiles. The sensitive information detailed in the leaks is believed to have revealed Israel's military strategies, including potential aircraft and munitions deployment in any response to Iranian aggression.
While the indictment against Rahman did not specify the precise role he held at the CIA, details confirmed by the New York Times have shed light on the broader implications of the leak. Intelligence officials have expressed concerns over the potential damage to U.S. relationships with key allies and the increased vulnerability such leaks could impose on military operations.
The arrest of Rahman highlights the complex and often precarious balance between transparency and national security. The documents in question, created by agencies such as the NGA and the National Security Agency (NSA), provide vital insights into ongoing geopolitical tensions but were intended for the eyes of only a select group of officials with proper clearance.
