Report: Trump leaked Israeli intel on ISIS cyber tactics to Russia

The New York Times revealed new details on the intelligence allegedly obtained by Israel and later shared by Trump with the Russians. 

A New York Times report on cyberwarfare against the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group revealed more details on the highly sensitive intelligence obtained by Israel, which was purportedly exposed and shared by President Donald Trump with Russian officials in the Oval Office in April.

In its report on Monday, the NYT claimed that US efforts to combat ISIS in the cyber realm are so far proving futile.

Even one of the rare known successes against ISIS belongs at least in part to Israel, according to the NYT. Israeli hackers were successful several months ago in penetrating a small cell of Islamic terrorist bomb experts operating out of Syria, the report says.

That was how the US learned the terrorist group was working to make explosives that could evade airport X-ray machines and other screening methods by looking exactly like batteries for laptop computers, according to the NYT. The revelation prompted a US ban on laptops and large electronic devices in carry-on luggage on flights originating from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries.

The intelligence was so superb that it enabled the US to understand how the weapons could be detonated. It was also part of the classified intelligence that Trump was accused of revealing when he met in the Oval Office last month with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak.

Trump’s disclosure reportedly infuriated Israeli officials, as it was shared on condition that it would remain confidential. Intelligence sharing between the two allies, however, was not significantly hindered.

By: World Israel News Staff

ISISIsraeli intelligenceRussia