US President Donald Trump has made sensational remarks, saying those who expose military secrets should be shot dead. He revealed that the timing of a military operation had to be changed after key information about the attack on Iran was leaked to the media. He also remarked that such people should be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Trump made the comments at an election campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona. He alleged that the departure and arrival times of US bombers ahead of the strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities had reached the media, claiming the details appeared in The New York Times and CNN.
Trump said the operation was put at risk after the departure time of B-2 stealth bombers from Missouri leaked. He said he discussed the matter with senior military officials and, after speaking with General Razin Caine, decided to postpone the attack. The pilots, who were already prepared for the mission, were disappointed by the decision, he said.
The attack was carried out two days later than originally planned, Trump said. He stated that the bombers were sent at the same time that had initially been leaked, which allowed the US to take the Iranian military by surprise. He described the American military action as part of an effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
However, Trump did not reveal who was responsible for the leak, nor did he present evidence in support of the allegations. He also gave no clarity on whether anyone had been identified through an investigation. In the United States, strict laws govern the unauthorised disclosure of national defence information, with the Espionage Act being a key law under which cases can be filed for illegally retaining or passing on classified information, giving Trump’s remarks added significance.