A former US government employee faces charges for allegedly leaking classified details about Israel’s earlier plans to strike Iran, according to US court documents filed on Wednesday. Asif William Rahman was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia this week and is expected to make his first court appearance in Guam, according to news agency AP.
Rahman was indicted last week in Virginia on two counts of willfully transmitting national defense information, serious charges that could lead to lengthy prison terms.
While it remains unclear if Rahman has legal representation or which federal agency he worked for, officials confirmed he held a top-secret security clearance. The charges relate to documents, linked to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, that surfaced last month. The documents disclosed that Israel was still positioning military resources for a strike in response to Iran’s major missile attack on October 1. However, NYT has reported that Rahman worked abroad for the CIA.
Last month, the FBI confirmed it was investigating the leak and stated that it was “collaborating closely with the Department of Defense and the intelligence community.”
The documents were accessible to “Five Eyes” alliance members, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
( With input from agencies)