Intelligence Leak ‘Deeply’ Damages US-Israeli Relations, Expert Says

The Pentagon is looking into the leak of intelligence information related to an upcoming Israeli attack on Iran. It was America’s responsibility to keep the information safe, officials say. 

The leak likely has “deeply” damaged U.S.-Israeli relations during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, says Victoria Coates, Heritage Foundation vice president in charge of the Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy. The leak is “very, very concerning,” she says.

After Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles Oct. 1 at Israel, the Jewish state announced that it would respond. The leaked documents don’t include specific targets that Israel plans to strike, but do include surveillance information. 

Release of that information “definitely” has changed Israel’s original response plan, Coates says. 

“The Iranians clearly have this information,” she says. “We don’t know what other information they have, and so I think Israel can and should take the time they need to develop an alternative plan.”

Coates joins this episode of “The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss how the U.S. will find the leaker, and what the Biden-Harris administration can do to repair relations with Israel. She also talks about Israel’s strategy in attacking the financial assets of a second terrorist group, Hezbollah, just north of the Jewish state in Lebanon. 

Listen to the podcast below: