A CIA official has been accused of disclosing highly confidential U.S. documents related to Israel’s possible retaliation against Iran in response to a missile attack.
Asif W. Rahman, who had worked abroad for the CIA and held a top-secret security clearance, was apprehended by the FBI in Cambodia on Tuesday in connection with the leaks, according to a report by The New York Times.
The arrest follows the circulation of highly classified materials online last month, which outlined Israel’s apparent plan to respond after Iran launched a series of missiles on October 1.
The leaked documents, produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, included satellite images related to the potential Israeli counterstrike, along with detailed information on the types of missiles available for the operation.
These files were classified as top-secret and were meant to be accessed only by individuals with the appropriate security clearance in the U.S. and among the members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The Middle East Spectator, which had received the documents from an anonymous source, stated that it had no connection to the original leaker and could not confirm the documents’ authenticity.
Last month, the FBI confirmed that it was investigating the origin of the leak, noting that it was “working closely with our partners in the Department of Defense and intelligence community.”
While the indictment does not disclose specific details of the leak, it indicates that the breach occurred on or around October 17.
The intelligence in the documents was based on satellite images captured on October 15-16.
Court filings suggest that investigators believe the leak took place in Cambodia.
As a CIA employee with access to sensitive compartmentalized information, Rahman held a level of clearance typically granted to individuals who manage classified materials.
Following his arrest, Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, emphasized the critical importance of protecting such materials, calling it the “highest priority” for any intelligence agency or employee.
“It is very troubling to know that a CIA officer may have been involved in leaking this highly classified information,” Mulroy, who is also a non-Resident Senior Fellow at MEI, told The Post.
“Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but if true, this is a serious security breach and there is no excuse for it.”
“This protection is critical to protecting the sources and methods of our intelligence collection and covert operations rely,” he added.
Data from 2017 reveals that over one million people in the U.S. have access to top-secret information, with an additional 1.6 million having clearance for materials deemed confidential or secret.
Once security clearances are granted, they are subject to continuous review, a process designed to quickly detect any new threats posed by an individual with clearance.
This process, which the Department of Defense revamped approximately two years ago, involves regular background checks to ensure that individuals continue to meet the criteria for holding security clearances.
Rahman, who is set to appear in federal court in Guam to face charges, is accused of two counts of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information.
Following his initial court appearance, he is expected to be transferred to Virginia’s Eastern District to stand trial.
{Matzav.com}