Israel's 'dangerous' anti-Iran leaks war 'will blow up', military officials

Israel's 'dangerous' anti-Iran leaks war 'will blow up', military officials
Israeli military insiders are worried that frequent media leaks on anti-Iranian activities could threaten Israel.
2 min read
13 April, 2021
Israeli sources are worried the leaks will further inflame tensions with Iran [NurPhoto/Getty]
Israeli military officials are worried that competing security agencies are engaged in a dangerous "leaks war" regarding Iran's nuclear activities which could eventually backfire, Haaretz has reported.

Military insiders did not single out a particular report for criticism but said the sheer quantity of leaks making it into the media at a time of inflamed relations with Tehran was worrying Israel's security apparatus.

The mass media coverage of attacks on and developments of Tehran's nuclear facilities could encourage Iran to retaliate when otherwise it might not react.

"It doesn't look good," an ex-top defence leader told Haaretz, explaining that preferential treatment is shown by Prime Minister Netanyahu towards bosses from particular security agencies.

Another security source added: "This is a war over who gets credit that will blow up in our faces."

Similar sentiments were reportedly echoed by many others.

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Benny Gantz, leader of Israel's Blue and White party and defence minister, on Monday asked the attorney general to investigate how details of a top-secret operation were revealed by foreign news outlets.

Concerns have also been raised about politicians using the hostilities with Iran to further their own ambitions, the Israeli daily added.

The leaks came a day before strikes on Iran's positions in Syria.

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The latest leak to make headlines concerned damage done to Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant on Sunday.

There, just the day before, Iran breached the terms of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by beginning use of advanced uranium centrifuges.

While Israel did not formally claim credit, media outlets said it had been a "cyber operation" by the Israelis.

Tehran described the incident as "anti-nuclear terrorism" by the Israel, promising "revenge on the Zionist regime".

The US has denied involvement and the White House said this would not impact the Iran nuclear deal talks in which Washington is indirectly participating.


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