President Joe Biden expressed “deep concern” about the release of classified documents about Israel’s preparations for a possible retaliatory attack on Iran, according to a White House spokesman.
US officials confirmed on Saturday that the administration is investigating the unauthorized release of classified documents assessing Israel’s plans to attack Iran.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the administration remains unsure whether classified information that was publicly disclosed was leaked or hacked.
Kirby added that administration officials have no indication at this point that “additional documents like this are finding their way into the public domain.” He added that the Pentagon is investing in the matter.
“We are deeply concerned, and the president remains deeply concerned, about any leakage of classified information into the public domain. This is not supposed to happen, and it is unacceptable when it does happen,” Kirby said.
The documents are attributed to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, and indicate that Israel was still moving military assets into place to conduct a military strike in response to the Iranian ballistic missile attack on October 1. The “Five Eyes” are the United States, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The documents, which were classified as top secret, were posted on the messaging app Telegram.
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