FBI Arrests U.S. Employee Suspected of Leaking Israel’s Strike Plans on Iran

The FBI has captured Asif William Rahman, a U.S. government employee suspected of leaking classified information on Israel’s planned retaliatory strikes against Iran. According to court documents, Rahman, who reportedly worked abroad for the CIA, was arrested in Cambodia on Tuesday and now faces charges of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information. His first court appearance is scheduled in Guam later this week.

Rahman held a top-secret security clearance, granting him access to sensitive compartmentalized information, which is standard for CIA employees working with classified documents. Investigators believe that Rahman’s alleged breach originated from within the government, suggesting an insider leak rather than a cyber intrusion. Sources indicated that at least one of the leaked files appeared to have been scanned from an official briefing book, limiting the potential sources.

The FBI initiated the probe in October, working with the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed President Joe Biden’s “deep concern” about the leak, describing it as “unacceptable.” Kirby assured that there is currently no indication of additional classified documents entering the public domain but emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to prevent further breaches.

President-elect Donald Trump, who commented on the leak during a campaign event in Florida, condemned the breach as a “bad thing” and pointed to what he described as an “enemy from within.” Trump criticized the Biden administration for security lapses, underscoring his commitment to tightening intelligence security.

The leaked information also underscored the close U.S. monitoring of Israel’s activities, with Axios reporting that American satellites played a significant role in tracking Israeli plans. Some speculate the leak may have been an attempt to disrupt Israel’s intended response to Iran’s missile attacks.

Tensions in the region have been high since Iran’s October 1 missile attack, in which the Islamic Republic fired more than 180 missiles at Israel. With assistance from U.S. and Jordanian defense forces, Israel intercepted most of the missiles, though one casualty was reported. Israel responded on October 26 with a series of airstrikes on Iranian facilities, dismantling key radar systems and missile production sites. Following Trump’s recent election victory, Iranian leaders reportedly decided to delay further strikes on Israel.

The incident highlights the critical importance of securing intelligence and raises questions about internal vulnerabilities within U.S. agencies, as investigators work to understand the scope of the breach and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

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