U.S. Intelligence Suggests Iran Was Surprised by Hamas Attack on Israel
The United States has obtained intelligence that indicates senior Iranian officials were surprised by the recent Hamas-led terror attack on Israel, according to multiple American officials who are familiar with the matter. This preliminary information suggests that Tehran may not have been directly involved in the deadly assault on October 7. While further analysis and collection of intelligence are ongoing, officials who have been briefed on the matter state that key Iranian officials, who would normally be aware of operations in the region, appeared to be unaware that the attacks were taking place.
Authorities have refrained from revealing the identities of the Iranian officials or providing details about the nature of the collected intelligence. On Wednesday morning, U.S. lawmakers were briefed in a classified setting by multiple agencies regarding the situation in Israel and the potential involvement of Iran. Additionally, Senior U.S. intelligence official Morgan Muir briefed a smaller group on Tuesday. The New York Times initially reported that the United States possesses intelligence suggesting that the Hamas attack caught senior Iranian officials off guard.
Since the attacks began, administration officials have maintained that Iran has been supporting Hamas with material, financial, and logistical assistance. However, no evidence has been uncovered thus far linking Iran directly to the attacks, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and left thousands more wounded. National security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized that Iran is implicated in the assault in a broad sense due to their longstanding support for the military wing of Hamas.
While acknowledging Iran’s involvement, the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, stated during a press briefing on Tuesday that the United States will continue to assess the situation and gather additional intelligence in the coming weeks and days. This includes investigating whether there were individuals within the Iranian system who had prior knowledge of the attack or contributed to its planning.
In a display of solidarity and support, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday for meetings with senior Israeli officials. The U.S. Department of State confirmed that the number of American citizens killed in Israel has risen to 22, and the whereabouts of 17 citizens remain unknown. Officials speculate that some of those individuals may have been taken hostage by Hamas.
As the investigation continues, the United States is determined to gather more evidence and fully understand the extent of Iran’s involvement or lack thereof in the Hamas-led attack on Israel.