Was Israeli news channel tipped off to exact time of Iran attack?

Channel 12 began a live broadcast just three minutes after Israeli and American jets struck Iran, suggesting that the station received information about the timing of the attack.

By World Israel News Staff

An Israeli news channel that began a live broadcast covering the outbreak of the war in Iran just minutes after Israeli fighter jets launched an attack on Tehran is now the subject of a Defense Ministry investigation amid concerns the station received insider information about the exact timing of the strike.

On Saturday, February 28, Channel 12 News began broadcasting at 8:16 a.m., with lead anchor Yonit Levi fully made up and prepared for the live broadcast.

Only three minutes earlier, at 8:13 a.m., air raid sirens blared across Israel to inform the public about the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Levi does not typically broadcast on Saturdays, nor does the channel usually air a news report at that time of day or on that day of the week.

The speed with which Levi and Channel 12’s military correspondent Nir Dvori were able to begin broadcasting immediately raised suspicion among commentators and political figures.

Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo said it was obvious that the station had received highly classified information that enabled it to prepare in advance.

“Which of the military officials or Mossad [senior figures] felt it was necessary to update Channel 12” regarding the timing of the attack? Bardugo asked on his show last week.

Bardugo’s suspicions were shared by prominent figures in the Netanyahu administration, including Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

Kisch, a former fighter pilot, reportedly raised the matter angrily during a war cabinet meeting.

“I don’t understand how it’s possible that someone leaked the exact date of the attack to Channel 12, and no one is talking about it? How is that possible?” Kisch was quoted by Hebrew-language media as saying.

Defense Minister Israel Katz was said to have told Kisch that he was taking the matter seriously.

“There is an investigation [into the leak] already underway,” Katz said.

He added that this type of leak “could have endangered the State of Israel and the entire campaign” if information about the timing of the attack had reached the public domain.