BICOM

Yediot Ahronot claims this morning that British and American intelligence were able to tap the live feeds of Israeli drones and fighter jets, gaining real-time access to Israeli operations.

The report, which was cleared for publication by Israel’s military censor, claims that a classified programme called “Anarchist” operated jointly between Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and the American National Security Agency (NSA). For 18 years, “Anarchist” apparently tracked weapons systems belonging to several regional powers, but focused on Israel. The operation was reportedly conducted from two locations, including a Royal Air Force installation in the Troodos Mountains, the highest point in Cyprus.

Details of the “Anarchist” programme were included in the documents leaked by American whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, but were only now released for publication. The documents include a UK intelligence assessment which said that “access to this [Israeli drone system] is indispensable for understanding the Israeli army and its operations and gives us the opportunity to understand future developments in the region.”

By tapping into Israel’s drone and fighter jet communications, UK and US intelligence were able to gain a bird’s eye view of Israeli surveillance over Palestinian areas, the wider region and intelligence gathering regarding Iran. Internal communications from aircraft to ground bases were also decoded. Yediot Ahronot says that the documents show that Israeli drone movements were recorded near Nablus in 2009 and other areas of the West Bank in 2010. In addition, the “Anarchist” programme led the UK and US to believe that Israel operates a weaponised drone programme, which Israeli leaders have never confirmed.

Details of the “Anarchist” programme are also published in Der Spiegel and The Intercept. However, Yediot Ahronot includes a response from an unnamed Israeli security source, who called the revelation an “earthquake,” which could mean that “none of our encrypted communications is safe.” The source commented that “Anarchist” is “the worst leak in Israeli intelligence history.”