- By Kamal Kumar
- Sun, 20 Oct 2024 08:38 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Israel was preparing to launch potential military strikes against Iran, leaked highly classified US intelligence documents showed on Sunday as reported by the New York Times. The documents were leaked from the database of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) - a US agency to analyse and process the images and other data provided by the American spy satellites, the report said, adding that these documents offer insights into Israel's military preparedness and exercises amid the soaring middle east tension.
The two documents - dated October 15 and 16 - were first circulated by pro-Iran elements on social media app, Telegram. Satellite image analyses provided in the documents reveal Israel conducting military exercises, potentially in preparation for a possible retaliatory strike on Iran. This possible response follows heightened tensions after Iran launched a missile barrage on October 1, in retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack.
The Two Documents: In Depth
One of the documents, titled "Israel: Air Force Continues Preparations for Strike on Iran", showed how the Israeli Air Force was rehearsing the air strikes to be carried out on Iran through various exercises. These exercises included a wide array of military manoeuvres, including air-to-air refuelling operations, search-and-rescue missions, and the repositioning of missile systems in anticipation of potential Iranian strikes, the news website stated.
The documents were first accessed by a Telegram channel Middle East Spectator, who shared it on the app.
(These purported documents were accessed by Jagran English from the Telegram channel Middle East Spectator. We can not confirm their veracity.)
The second document reveals Israeli efforts to move ammunition and missiles to strategic locations, where they can be effectively used against Iran.
While the documents discuss Israeli military movements and exercises, they don't include actual satellite images. However, US intelligence, based on those images, indicates Israel may be preparing for a strike, though it's unclear if the documents fully capture Israel's plans for Iran.