White House: Biden ‘Deeply Concerned’ about Release of Documents on Israel’s Possible Attack Plans

US President Joe Biden attends an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 20 October 2024. (EPA)
US President Joe Biden attends an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 20 October 2024. (EPA)
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White House: Biden ‘Deeply Concerned’ about Release of Documents on Israel’s Possible Attack Plans

US President Joe Biden attends an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 20 October 2024. (EPA)
US President Joe Biden attends an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 20 October 2024. (EPA)

President Joe Biden is "deeply concerned" about the release of classified documents on Israel's preparation for a potential retaliatory attack on Iran, according to a White House spokesman.

US officials confirmed on Saturday that the administration is investigating an unauthorized release of classified documents that assess Israel’s plans to attack Iran.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the administration was still not certain if the classified information that became publicly disclosed was leaked or hacked.

Kirby added that administration officials don’t have any indication at this point of "additional documents like this finding their way into the public domain." He added the Pentagon is investing the matter.

"We’re deeply concerned and the president remains deeply concerned about any leakage of classified information into the public domain. That is not supposed to happen and it’s unacceptable when it does," Kirby said.

The documents are attributed to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, and note that Israel was still moving military assets in place to conduct a military strike in response to Iran’s blistering ballistic missile attack on Oct. 1. They were sharable within the "Five Eyes," which are the US, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

The documents, which are marked top secret, were posted to the Telegram messaging app.



Kamala Harris Says She Is Not Concerned about Trump’s Talks with Netanyahu

Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the press after speaking at a church on October 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images/AFP)
Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the press after speaking at a church on October 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Kamala Harris Says She Is Not Concerned about Trump’s Talks with Netanyahu

Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the press after speaking at a church on October 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images/AFP)
Democratic presidential nominee, US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to the press after speaking at a church on October 27, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Getty Images/AFP)

US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday she was not concerned about talks between former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and reiterated her positions on the conflict in the Middle East.

Democratic presidential candidate Harris faces Republican Trump in a tight race for the Nov. 5 US elections.

"No," Harris said when asked if talks between Trump and Netanyahu could undermine what the current US government is trying to achieve.

Trump and Netanyahu have spoken on a few occasions in recent weeks. They had close ties when Trump was president as the US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which delighted Israelis and infuriated Palestinians.

"I do believe that it is critically important that we as the United States of America be an active participant in encouraging one, that this war ends, that we get the hostages out but also that there is a real commitment among nations to a two-state solution and the 'day after' (in Gaza)," Harris told reporters on Sunday.

President Joe Biden has supported Israel during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon after Palestinian group Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Harris and Trump have pledged to maintain US support for its ally.

In the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, about 1,200 were killed and nearly 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has killed around 43,000, according to Gaza's health ministry. It has displaced nearly everyone in Gaza, caused a hunger crisis and led to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies.

Israel's separate campaign in Lebanon has killed over 2,500 and displaced over a million. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, who have been engaged in cross-border fire with Israel for the past year.