A CIA official has been charged with leaking highly classified documents regarding Israel’s potential response to a missile attack by Iran. Asif W. Rahman, a former CIA officer who worked abroad and held top secret clearance, was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia on Tuesday, according to the New York Times.
Rahman’s arrest follows the circulation of these sensitive documents online last month, which outlined Israel’s possible retaliation plans after Iran launched a missile attack on October 1. The leaked files, produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, included satellite images related to the Israeli strike and detailed information about various types of missiles involved. These documents were intended for individuals with proper security clearance in the U.S. and among the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
The Middle East Spectator reported receiving the documents from an anonymous source but stated that it was unable to verify their authenticity or confirm any connection to the original leaker. The FBI launched an investigation into the leak last month, coordinating with the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies.
The indictment, filed around October 17, does not specify the exact nature of the leak but indicates it occurred in Cambodia. The intelligence in the documents was based on satellite imagery from October 15-16. Rahman’s security clearance allowed him access to sensitive compartmentalized information, a level typical for individuals handling classified materials.
According to 2017 figures, over one million people in the U.S. have access to top-secret information, with an additional 1.6 million holding access to confidential or secret materials. Security clearances are subject to ongoing vetting to detect any new risks posed by cleared employees.
Rahman, facing two counts of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information, is set to appear in federal court in Guam before being transferred to the Eastern District of Virginia for trial.
