by Our Correspondent in Doha
A massive leak of highly classified U.S. Department of Defense documents has been exposed on a Telegram channel reportedly run by Iranian operators, raising alarm within Washington and among U.S. allies. The files, dated January 2025, include cover pages from dozens of top-secret reports concerning strategic U.S. military planning, NATO posture in Ukraine, Russian and American weapons systems, and bases in the Asia-Pacific. According to the source, the leaker is demanding $3,000 for access to the full set of documents, though only partial glimpses—mostly cover pages—have been released publicly. “This time, we will not share the contents of the documents due to their sensitive nature and for legal reasons,” the channel stated. “We are only sharing the cover pages of the document sets, to prove our claim and to make the public aware that a leak has occurred.”
One of the leaked files, described as “TOP SECRET//SCI” and marked “EYES ONLY,” reveals extraordinary detail about U.S. policy aimed at countering Iran’s growing influence in Yemen and the Red Sea. The document begins with a stark warning about Tehran’s long-term strategy. “Iran’s strategy focuses on leveraging proxy networks and deploying naval assets disguised as commercial vessels to establish logistical hubs and forward-operating bases in strategically sensitive areas,” it reads. The report specifically identifies “the Eritrean coast and Yemeni islands such as Socotra and Perim, both of which offer Iran control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime passage for global oil trade.” The file claims that the Iranian Quds Force, operating under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is coordinating covert operations using local militias and regional actors “to mask Iran’s direct involvement.”
The Pentagon document goes on to describe Iran’s deployment of sophisticated naval technologies, saying the plan “reportedly involves the deployment of advanced naval drones and fast-attack craft capable of operating covertly within the region’s shallow waters. These assets are designed to evade detection through electronic warfare measures while carrying out precision sabotage—mining, or direct attacks on commercial shipping.” U.S. intelligence further assessed that Iran has been funneling funds and military supplies to Houthi rebels in Yemen, helping them build “permanent military outposts under the guise of humanitarian aid centers.” The facilities are said to be equipped with “radar systems, anti-ship missiles, and drone-launching platforms, creating a layered A2/AD (anti-access/area-denial) environment in the southern Red Sea.”
The leaked file highlights the gravity of the situation as understood by Washington. “Recognizing the threat, the Trump administration has prioritized a coordinated response designed to neutralize Iran’s gains without escalating to open conflict,” the text reads. It adds that the U.S. counterstrategy is intelligence-driven and designed to “counteract Tehran’s ambitions while maintaining plausible deniability.”
According to the pages released, the U.S. response consists of two phases. The first involves intensifying surveillance operations across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, using satellites “equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and infrared imaging” repositioned to monitor Iranian naval movements. These satellite feeds, the report explains, are “cross-referenced with naval patrols and electronic signals intelligence (SIGINT) collected from bases in Djibouti and Diego Garcia.” The document also cites the deployment of a new generation of unmanned aerial systems “capable of extended loitering” to improve tracking of Iranian vessels “masquerading as commercial ships.”
The second phase is focused on dismantling Iran’s networks and logistics. “Special Operations Forces, working alongside allied militaries in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been tasked with sabotaging Iranian supply depots,” the leaked text reveals. It also mentions that U.S. Cyber Command “has deployed malware to disrupt Iranian communications and mislead naval commanders,” and launched a “parallel initiative targeting Iranian maritime command-and-control infrastructure.” In particularly stark terms, the document describes “advanced jamming equipment” being deployed to degrade Iranian naval communications, alongside “covert efforts to dismantle Iranian radar installations in Yemen.”
The final portion of the file addresses diplomacy, noting that “the Trump administration is leveraging its diplomatic channels to strengthen regional alliances.” High-level talks are described as being underway with Eritrea and Somalia to secure basing rights for U.S. and allied forces. “These bases will serve as staging points for joint patrols and rapid-response missions aimed at countering Iranian aggression,” the report states.
The Telegram channel that posted the cover pages insisted that it would not release the full text “for legal reasons,” but argued that “some of them are signed. Very likely to be authentic.” Analysts who have reviewed the leaked pages note that the inclusion of official signatures and the highly specific military language strongly suggest authenticity. If confirmed, this would mark one of the most significant breaches of U.S. national security in recent years, revealing not only American surveillance capabilities but also covert cyber operations and partnerships with regional allies.
