US house speaker, Israeli PM discuss security amid intelligence leaks

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed serious concern regarding the leak of highly classified documents containing intelligence on Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran.

According to Johnson, the classified information related to the leak discussed at the closed briefing on October 20, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

"This leak raises significant concerns; serious allegations are being made. An investigation is currently underway," he stated.

Additionally, Johnson revealed that he had a phone conversation on October 19 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He remarked, "I believe a new era of security and freedom for Israel is very close."

This unfolding situation underscores the increasing tensions surrounding the US-Israeli relationship and the ongoing concerns regarding security in the region.

The leaked documents, believed to have been produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), outline US assessments of Israeli military plans based on satellite imagery from mid-October.

Notably, the documents began circulating on the Telegram messaging app last week and detail Israeli Air Force and Navy planning, reportedly in response to a missile attack from Iran on October 1, the second such strike in six months.

Israel has since escalated its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The documents suggest that Israel’s response is being closely monitored by US intelligence services.

The Telegram channel involved in the leak identifies itself as being based in Tehran, Iran’s capital. It previously published memes featuring Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and material in support of Tehran’s self-described “axis of resistance”, which includes Middle East militant groups armed by the Islamic Republic.

By Aghakazim Guliyev