A recent development has rocked the intelligence community as a CIA official has been arrested for leaking highly classified US documents regarding Israel’s potential plan to retaliate against Iran following a missile attack. Asif W. Rahman, who held a top secret security clearance and worked overseas for the agency, was apprehended by the FBI in Cambodia.
The leaked materials, which began circulating online last month, contained detailed information about Israel’s supposed intention to strike back after Iran launched a series of missiles on October 1. The documents, prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, included satellite imagery related to the potential Israeli strike and the types of missiles involved. These top secret files were meant to be viewed only by individuals with proper clearance in the US and by members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance.
Rahman’s position at the CIA granted him access to sensitive compartmentalized information, which is standard for employees handling classified materials. The FBI had been investigating the source of the leak and had been collaborating with partners in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.
Charged with two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, Rahman is being transferred to a federal court in Guam to face these charges. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding classified information and the severe consequences that can result from unauthorized disclosures within the intelligence community.
