Biden under fire for US intel leak of Israel's Iran attack plans

The Pentagon logo is seen behind the podium in the briefing room at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 8, 2020.
The Pentagon logo is seen behind the podium in the briefing room at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 8, 2020.

The FBI launched an investigation into a leak of classified US assessments of Israel’s potential plans to attack Iran while Republican critics ripped the Biden administration for mishandling intelligence just two weeks before the Nov. 5 elections.

“The FBI is investigating the alleged leak of classified documents and working closely with our partners in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community,” the agency said in a statement. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we have no further comment.”

The information relates to intelligence gleaned from US satellites on preparations for an Israeli air attack on Iran in retaliation for an Oct. 1 missile barrage on the Jewish state.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton wrote to Biden to request biweekly briefings on the status of its investigation into the leak.

"This leak is an outrageous betrayal of an ally and a breach of trust that will undermine our relationship with partners for years to come," Cotton, a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote according to a copy of the letter published by the Washington Free Beacon.

Donald Trump also capitalized on the opportunity to attack the Biden-Harris administration, just two weeks before his face-off with Vice President Kamala Harris.

"Israel has been seriously damaged and compromised ... MUST FIND THE LEAKER! Israel no longer wants to share documents with the US, and who can blame them!" the former President wrote on Truth Social.

Identity sought

Conflicting reports emerged on Tuesday over the progress of US investigators and the potential source of a leak.

Sky News Arabia reported on Tuesday citing a Pentagon official that a senior employee in US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s office is suspected of leaking the assessments to Tehran.

The official, the report added, serves within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and holds a security clearance that provides access to highly sensitive information.

However, the Pentagon officially denied that Ariane Tabatabai, Chief of Staff of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, is a subject of interest in the investigation for the alleged leak of US documents on Israel's plan to attack Iran. "To my knowledge, the official that is being referenced is not a subject of interest," said Press Secretary Pat Ryder.

Also veteran Pentagon correspondent for Fox News Jennifer Griffin said on Tuesday that no suspects in any leak had been identified, calling the Sky News Arabia item "irresponsible reporting."

"This story is NOT TRUE," Griffin wrote on X. "I have spoken with the person the reporter alleges was behind the leak of Israeli preparations and she is at work at the Pentagon today, has her security clearance and has NOT been contacted by ... investigators".

The documents, marked as top secret, began circulating online on Friday after being posted on Telegram by an account called "Middle East Spectator." Dated October 15 and 16, the intelligence was intended for viewing only by the US and its "Five Eyes" allies, which include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said on Monday that it remains unclear whether the documents were released due to a leak or a cyber breach. He emphasized that the government does not anticipate any further unauthorized disclosure of classified material.

Senator Roger Wicker on Monday criticized the continued security clearance for Ariane Tabatabai, the chief of staff for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations.

"The latest apparent leak to an Iranian Telegram channel reflects the Biden-Harris administration's tolerance of insider threats," Wicker wrote on X.

There was no evidence linking Tabatabai to any potential leak.

A September 2023 joint investigation by Semafor and Iran International named Tabatabai as a key figure in a network tasked by Iran's foreign ministry to echo Tehran’s strategic messaging.