A high-ranking CIA official, Asif W. Rahman, now faces federal charges for allegedly leaking top-secret intelligence detailing Israel’s potential military response to Iran.

As reported by The New York Post, Rahman, who held high-level clearance while working overseas, was arrested by FBI agents in Cambodia following an investigation into this serious breach of U.S. intelligence. His arrest brings intense scrutiny to the CIA’s handling of classified information and has raised concerns about national security.

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The classified documents at the center of this case reportedly contain satellite imagery and descriptions of missile systems. These files, which mapped out Israel’s possible response to Iran’s October 1 missile attacks, were only meant for select U.S. intelligence personnel and trusted allies within the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing network, consisting of the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K.

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The materials were prepared by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), a U.S. defense agency responsible for producing and managing geospatial intelligence for national security purposes.

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The leak has underscored the increasing problem of security breaches by individuals with high-level clearances. Rahman’s actions add to a troubling pattern of recent intelligence leaks, sparking questions about the CIA’s vetting protocols and internal security.

To address such issues, the Department of Defense had previously reformed its clearance monitoring process, creating a “continuous vetting” system designed to detect any new risks posed by individuals with access to sensitive information.

However, despite these measures, leaks like this one continue to pose threats, revealing vulnerabilities within the agency’s vetting framework.

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The FBI began investigating the source of the leaked documents last month in coordination with the Department of Defense. On October 17, they linked Rahman to the unauthorized disclosure of classified materials and moved swiftly to make an arrest.

Rahman’s arrest marks another incident in the long-standing struggle to prevent insiders with clearance from leaking critical information, particularly given the substantial number of individuals with access to U.S. top-secret information.

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The Middle East Spectator, a media outlet that claims it received the information from an anonymous source, stated it could not confirm Rahman as the original leaker, further highlighting the challenge of tracking down the root of these breaches.

This case reveals the ongoing need for improved counterintelligence strategies, as over a million Americans currently hold top-secret clearance, with an additional 1.6 million possessing confidential or secret-level access.

Rahman now faces two serious federal charges: willful retention and transmission of national defense information. Following his initial court appearance in Guam, he will be transferred to Virginia’s Eastern District to stand trial.