The CIA logo at its headquarters in Langley, Virginia. (Credit: AFP archive photo)
A CIA analyst arrested in connection with the October leak of classified documents detailing Israeli strike plans against Iran pleaded guilty Friday in a federal court.
Asif Rahman, stationed abroad for the CIA, was arrested on Nov. 12 in Cambodia by the FBI, according to American media reports at the time.
Rahman, 34, had worked for the CIA since 2016, according to court documents released Friday and a Justice Department statement.
"Mr. Rahman betrayed the trust of the American people by illegally sharing classified national defense information he had sworn to protect," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen in the statement.
Rahman pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful retention and transmission of classified national security information, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Sentencing is set for May 15.
The leaked documents, which included satellite image analyses conducted by U.S. federal agencies, were shared on Telegram.
Despite the leak, Israel, a key U.S. ally, responded in late October to Iran’s launch of about 200 missiles toward its territory earlier that month.
Iran said the strikes were in retaliation for Israeli actions, including the killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan in Lebanon, and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which it attributed to Israel.
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