• A former CIA analyst has pleaded guilty to leaking information about a planned Israeli attack on Iran.
• Asif Rahman faces up to 20 years in prison for his actions, which compromised classified documents.
• The leaked documents indicated Israel's military readiness following a ballistic missile attack from Iran.
• The incident has led to delays in Israeli military operations.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a significant national security breach, Asif Rahman, a former CIA analyst, pleaded guilty on Friday to charges stemming from his unlawful disclosure of classified information regarding a planned Israeli military strike against Iran. The 34-year-old, arrested by the FBI last November, entered his plea in federal court in Virginia to two counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information related to national defense, which could lead to a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count.

Prosecutors detailed how Rahman, who had worked for the CIA since 2016, exploited his access to sensitive intelligence by removing and printing two documents concerning Israel's military preparations. These documents, which later appeared on the Telegram messaging app, indicated that Israel was positioning military assets in anticipation of strikes in response to a ballistic missile attack attributed to Iran on October 1. Consequently, Israel launched a retaliatory strike targeting Iranian air defense systems and missile facilities in late October. Officials noted that the leaked information caused delays in Israel's planned military operations.

The documents shared by Rahman were classified as shareable within the Five Eyes network, which includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Court documents revealed that Rahman's actions had a profound impact on the operational timeline of Israeli military strategy.

Born in California and raised in Cincinnati, Rahman was a high school valedictorian who graduated from Yale University in just three years. He currently resides in the D.C. metro area with his wife and parents. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the security of classified information and the potential ramifications of unauthorized disclosures. For further details, read the complete story on Los Angeles Times or AP News.