US defense secretary says he is seeing some progress with getting more aid into Gaza
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that efforts are underway to increase aid to civilians in Gaza. When asked about a letter he co-signed with Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging Israel to expand aid flows to Gaza or risk losing U.S. military assistance, Austin declined to comment publicly on the matter. However, he noted that the recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar offers a “window of opportunity” to boost aid distribution.
Austin emphasized the importance of ensuring that civilians in Gaza receive essential supplies. He stated, “They have a window of opportunity now with Hamas’ leadership being taken out of the picture to really begin to focus in earnest on the people.”
He added that the primary goals are to secure the release of hostages and achieve a ceasefire.
Context: The World Food Programme recently warned that no food had reached northern Gaza since early October, placing 1 million people at risk of starvation. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that while aid trucks had entered northern Gaza last week, much more assistance is urgently needed.
Leaked documents show US intelligence on Israel’s plans to attack Iran, sources say
The U.S. is investigating a leak of highly classified intelligence detailing Israel’s potential plans for retaliation against Iran, according to three sources familiar with the matter. One source confirmed the documents’ authenticity.
A U.S. official described the leak as “deeply concerning.” The documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online after being posted by a Telegram account named Middle East Spectator.
Labeled as top secret, the documents are intended only for the U.S. and its Five Eyes allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. They outline Israel’s preparations for a possible strike on Iran, with one document from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency detailing the movement of munitions. Another document, attributed to the National Security Agency, describes Israeli Air Force drills involving air-to-surface missiles, suggesting preparations for an attack on Iran.
The U.S. is now investigating who had access to these Pentagon documents. Such leaks typically prompt an FBI investigation in conjunction with the Pentagon and intelligence agencies. While the FBI declined to comment, the National Security Council referred inquiries to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Pentagon, both of which declined to provide details.
It remains unclear how the documents were exposed, whether through hacking or deliberate leaking.
