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.

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.

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."