Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Russian agency: Russia will conduct a nuclear test if the US does
Al-Nakhalah: We are the rightful owners, and we must fight to retrieve our rights
Al-Nakhalah: The enemy and its allies must know that we can never surrender to their terms and diktats after all the sacrifices made
Al-Nakhalah: The prisoner exchange clause can be completed in the next few days, and thus we will have pulled the [explosion] fuse and removed the enemy's justifications for aggression
Al-Nakhalah: The Resistance has expressed its willingness to negotiate on the basis that there are items that can be dealt with positively, the first of which is the prisoner exchange item
Al-Nakhalah: Trump's plan entails the Palestinian people's declaration of complete surrender to the enemy
PIJ Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, in an address aired on Al Mayadeen: The Resistance is engaging in a fierce negotiating battle under the so-called Trump plan
Russian Federation Council approves joint military cooperation agreement with Cuba
Al-Nunu: Today, the lists of prisoners required to be released, the agreed-upon criteria and numbers, were exchanged
Al-Nunu from Sharm el-Sheikh: Negotiations focused on mechanisms for implementing an end to the war, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners

US Air Force deployed intel officers to assist IOF in Gaza genocide

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Intercept
  • 12 Jan 2024 19:30
3 Min Read

The Biden administration, for the first time in US history, has been conducting surveillance drone missions over Gaza since early November, allegedly for captives recovery by special forces.

  • x
  • Palestinians mourn their relatives, including kids killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, outside a morgue in Rafah, southern Gaza, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
    Palestinians mourn their relatives, including kids killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, outside a morgue in Rafah, southern Gaza, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

The Intercept reported that the US Air Force deployed intelligence officers with expertise in airstrikes and long-range artillery to "Israel" in late November, as revealed through a document obtained via the Freedom of Information Act.

Since October 7, "Israel" has dropped over 29,000 bombs on Gaza, according to a recent US intelligence document. The Biden administration, for the first time in US history, has been conducting surveillance drone missions over Gaza since early November, allegedly for captives recovery by special forces.

Despite initial claims that these forces were not participating in Israel [Occupation] Forces target development, the US Air Force's deployment guidelines for officers on November 21 suggest their involvement in providing satellite intelligence for offensive targeting.

The guidelines issued by the Pentagon's Air Force component command for the Middle East, Air Forces Central, included instructions for air personnel, such as an "Air Defense Liaison Team" and individuals designated as "Intelligence Engagement Officers (IEO)."

The IEOs, according to experts, may be tasked with providing satellite intelligence support for offensive targeting during the ongoing war.

Read more: 'Israel', US already lost the war in Gaza: The Hill

Lawrence Cline, a former intelligence engagement officer, noted the coordination of intelligence between the US and allied militaries, stressing the importance of targeting officers in identifying enemy activities.

Related News

Despite Trump’s calm order, Israeli bombs still pound Gaza, kill 10

Exposed: Western journalists secretly served 'Israel's' war propaganda

Inquiries about the mission of the deployed airmen were referred to Air Forces Central by the Defense Intelligence Agency, which did not respond to The Intercept's request for comment. Similar requests for comment from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Central Command went unanswered.

The term "intelligence engagement" is characterized, as per a US Army primer, as a "powerful" tool, particularly valuable in situations where US policy restrictions limit direct interaction, as it often does not necessitate extensive budgets or physical presence.

In the current context, experts suggest that this description may aptly apply to the situation at hand.

The Israeli exception

Tyler McBrien, the managing editor of Lawfare, a website specializing in national security law, pointed out that there appears to be a unique "Israel exception" to the rules governing US military assistance.

The Leahy law mandates the vetting of foreign military units for "gross violations of human rights" when receiving US training or aid, leading to concerns from progressive members of Congress regarding US aid to "Israel", both before and during the current war.

"For air advisory missions, which I imagine involve intelligence sharing and training, specific domestic legal restrictions such as the Leahy law and the assassination ban would likely come into play," McBrien said.

But the Leahy vetting process takes a "reversed" approach for "Israel", where instead of pre-vetting Israeli military units, the US State Department provides aid first and awaits reports of violations, as outlined in a recent article by Josh Paul, a former State Department political-military officer who resigned due to US support for "Israel."

Read more: Biden's arms supply to 'Israel' breaches US, int'l laws: HRW report

  • war on Gaza
  • Air Force
  • US Air Force
  • US Intel
  • Israeli intelligence
  • Intel
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Retired Israeli General Brik says Israel has reached point of no return.
Politics

Retired Israeli General Brik: 'Israel has reached point of no return'

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation
Politics

Depleted by foreign wars, US seeks to re-arm for another confrontation

Gaza’s newborns gasp for life as hospitals collapse amid Israeli war
Health

Gaza newborns gasp for life, share oxygen masks amid collapsed system

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls
Politics

UK arms exports to 'Israel' reach record high despite ban calls

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS