Republican lawmakers confirm intelligence reports on Russian operation to target U.S. troops but say material needs further review

Leading Republican lawmakers on Monday confirmed that U.S. intelligence agencies have developed information about a Russian military operation targeting U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan. But they said that any U.S. response should wait until intelligence agencies fully review the material, some of which was shared with members of Congress in a classified briefing at the White House.

Current and former intelligence officials familiar with the intelligence said it was less ambiguous than White House officials and some lawmakers have portrayed and indicated that Russian military intelligence had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants who killed U.S. military personnel.

The CIA in particular has been analyzing the intelligence for several months and has assessed that the Russian program is real, according to these people. Continue reading.