Israel has been forced to rewrite and delay its plans to strike Iran following a leak of U.S. intelligence documents detailing the operation. The leak, which emerged over the weekend, outlined Israel’s preparatory actions ahead of the planned attack and was shared on a pro-Iranian social media platform, causing Israeli officials to reconsider their approach.
The leaked document did not include specific strike targets but provided details about Israel’s missile preparations and drone surveillance activities in advance of the operation. Israel had been planning the strike in response to Iran’s launch of nearly 200 ballistic missiles into Israeli territory on October 1.
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Due to the leak, Israeli officials are concerned that Iran could use the information to bolster its defenses.
An intelligence source told The Times that the leak delayed the attack because Israel had to adjust strategies and components of the operation. “There will be a retaliation, but it has taken longer than expected,” the source said.
The U.S. is currently investigating the leak, although it remains unclear who was responsible or how the documents were accessed. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have expressed concern that the leaked intelligence may compromise the effectiveness of their response, though new plans are being drawn up.
The U.S. has reportedly urged Israel to avoid targeting Iranian oil or nuclear sites, as President Joe Biden had expressed concerns about escalating the conflict further. Instead, Israel is likely to focus on Iranian military targets. While the U.S. supports Israel’s right to retaliate, it has also called for de-escalation in the region.
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The situation comes amid growing tensions in the Middle East, which have been exacerbated since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to broader involvement from groups like Hezbollah. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reportedly been attempting to convince Arab states to close their airspace to Israeli jets, though Jordan has firmly stated that it will not allow any violations of its sovereignty or airspace.
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