US investigates leak on intelligence about Israel's Iran attack plans
An investigation is underway into the "very concerning" leak of classified U.S. intelligence documents detailing Israel’s plans for a retaliatory strike on Iran, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday.
Johnson told CNN's State of the Union he would receive a briefing on the probe later Sunday. "There’s some serious allegations being made there," Johnson said. "We’re following it closely."
The documents, revealed on the Telegram messaging app last week, appear to have been prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. They describe U.S. interpretations of Israeli Air Force and Navy planning using satellite imagery from Oct. 15-16. The Pentagon said it is looking into the leak.
Israel has pledged a firm response to Iran's ballistic-missile barrage on Israel Oct. 1, the second direct attack on Israel in six months. President Joe Biden, responding to questions from reporters, said last week he had a good understanding of when and how Israel would attack Iran.
But he also said he sees an opportunity to end the two enemies' back-and-forth strikes.
Developments:
? Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sunday he had ordered his ministry to start legal proceedings against French President Emmanuel Macron after Paris banned Israeli firms from participating in an upcoming military naval trade show.
? The Israeli military said it was conducting "targeted activity" against Hezbollah infrastructures in southern Lebanon as both sides continued aerial attacks. Air Force fighter jets attacked dozens of militant targets and the launcher from which dozens of missiles were fired towards Western Galilee earlier Sunday.
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Israel warns Lebanese civilians to evacuate ahead of attacks
Israel said Sunday it was preparing attacks on sites in Lebanon linked to the financial operations of Iran-backed Hezbollah and published maps with the likely targets warning civilians to evacuate the areas.
The warning came hours after Israel said it hit Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Beirut. The Hezbollah-linked financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association has more than 30 branches across Lebanon including 15 across central Beirut and its suburbs.
Avichay Adraee, an Israeli spokesperson for the Arab media, posted the maps on social media with a warning to those living near the targets.
"You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, which the (Israeli military) will work against in the near future," Adraee warned. "For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately and stay away from them for a distance of no less than 500 meters."
UN blasts Israel for latest attack; Israel says report 'exaggerated'
The U.N. peace envoy for the Middle East on Sunday condemned continued attacks on civilians after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza's Beit Lahiya late on Saturday. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 87 people were killed and at least 40 wounded.
"The nightmare in Gaza is intensifying" said Tor Wennesland, the U.N. Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. "Horrifying scenes are unfolding in the northern Strip amidst conflict, relentless Israeli strikes and an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis."
The Israeli military dismissed the Hamas-run ministry's numbers as "exaggerated," saying they “do not line up with the information available to the IDF, the precision munitions used, and the precise damage done."
Israel commander denies Sinwar killing was 'stroke of luck'
The attack that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, widely reported as a chance encounter, was the result of professional soldiering and "not a stroke of luck,” Israeli Col. Sivan Bloch stressed on Sunday.
Bloch's Defense Force’s 828th Brigade was tasked with continuing mop-up operations in Rafah, including locating and demolishing leftover Hamas infrastructure, eliminating militants, and searching for signs of hostages.
Block told the Times of Israel that a vigilant soldier spotted suspicious movement several hundred meters away. The incident was almost given an all-clear after nothing was initially found, but trackers with the brigade searched the area and found fresh footprints on the ground, Bloch said.
Soldiers followed the footprints to a house where they found Sinwar and his guards. A gunfight ensued and the militants were killed and a soldier went into the building.
“Half jesting, we said, ‘Walla, it looks like Yahya Sinwar.’ We went up to him physically, and there was no doubt. His face is easy to recognize," Bloch said. "I can tell you that we didn’t even believe it at first."
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel war updates: US investigates leak on Israel's Iran attack plans