(CNN)- The publication on social media of two classified US intelligence documents detailing Israeli preparations for an attack on Iran has sparked an outcry within the US government to find out how they leaked, a very thorough investigation that is in its early stages. and focused on who had access to the documents.
On Monday, the White House publicly announced that there is currently no indication that any documents other than those two have been leaked or will be released.
But the disclosure of two documents, which appear to have been prepared by two Defense Department intelligence agencies, the National Security Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, has put American officials on alert at a highly sensitive time in relations between the United States and the United States. Deeply concerned. And Israel.
The FBI is leading the investigation, working with Pentagon investigators and the intelligence community, according to US officials briefed on the case.
In recent days, investigators have worked to authenticate the documents and determine who may have had access to them, officials said.
This approach is a sign that, for now, the FBI and other investigators are working on the theory that the leak likely came from a government insider, not a cyber intrusion.
According to two sources familiar with US intelligence, both documents were widely accessible products. But it appears to have been scanned from at least one officially printed informational book. This could provide investigators with an important starting point: The Defense Department, like other federal agencies, tracks when employees print classified documents. These sources said that the group of people publishing these pages would be relatively small.
But officials say that the investigation is still considered to be in its initial stage, hence no conclusion has been reached.
The FBI declined to comment.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that officials still do not know how the documents were released and that the Defense Department is continuing its investigation.
Kirby also said that “at this time” he had no reason to believe that similar documents would be released.
“At this time we have no indication when such additional documents are expected to come into the public domain,” he said.
The documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online on Friday after being posted on Telegram by an account called “Middle Orient Spectator.” They are marked top secret and have markings indicating that they are to be seen only by the US and its “Five Eyes” allies: Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
One of the documents, which it says was compiled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, states that the plans include the transfer of ammunition by Israel.
Another document is said to have come from the National Security Agency and describes Israeli Air Force exercises with air-to-surface missiles, also believed to be in preparation for attacks on Iran. Was in preparation. CNN does not directly cite or feature the documents.
U.S. officials remained tight-lipped about the investigation on Monday, underscoring the sensitive nature of the leak. Officially, several agencies refused to even confirm that an investigation was underway.
In a statement over the weekend, the “Middle Orient Spectator” account said it was “unaware of any additional leaks of classified US documents” and that it had “no connection to the original source, who we know was an informant within the United States Department of State.” Believed to be of protection.
According to a US official, what most concerns the intelligence community is not what the documents contain, but the fact that they were leaked. Although it is tacitly acknowledged that the US also spies on its allies, publicly leaking US surveillance of Israel risks straining relations at a time when the US is desperately trying to end a series of internecine conflicts. In which Israel is now included.
Last year, a major leak of US intelligence also strained US relations with allies and partners, including South Korea and Ukraine, when 21-year-old National Guard member Ariel Jack Teixeira posted highly classified information on social media platforms Was. Discord.
In that case, the FBI was able to take immediate action to identify Teixeira, who left an electronic trail that helped investigators quickly narrow down their targets. Teixeira is now serving a 16-year sentence for the leaks, and the Pentagon has said it has reduced the number of people who have access to certain documents.
—CNN’s Natasha Bertrand and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.