(MENAFN) On February 18, 2010, WikiLeaks made headlines when it published a leaked diplomatic cable provided by Chelsea Manning. Manning, a former US Army intelligence analyst, had provided the website with hundreds of thousands of classified documents, which were believed to be the largest unauthorized release of state secrets in US history.

Since its launch in 2006, WikiLeaks has become well-known for publishing thousands of classified documents covering various topics, including national security, wars, and the film industry.

Before its massive disclosure of U.S. government and military information in 2010, WikiLeaks was already established as an online outlet for posting secret documents from anonymous leakers.

However, the publication of the documents provided by Manning propelled the website to international fame. The disclosures made by WikiLeaks were seen as revealing a wealth of important information that the U.S. government had been trying to keep hidden, particularly in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In her role as an intelligence analyst, Manning was deployed to Iraq in October 2009, where she had access to various classified and sensitive information from different government agencies.

Starting on January 5, 2010, she began downloading a massive amount of material, beginning with 400,000 documents related to the Iraq War. She continued to download sensitive information until her arrest in May 2010.

On February 18, 2010, Manning sent WikiLeaks the cable known as “Reykjavik 13”. This diplomatic cable detailed discussions between American diplomats and Icelandic government officials. WikiLeaks posted the leaked diplomatic cable on its website, which drew significant attention from the media and governments around the world.

The role of WikiLeaks in publishing classified documents has been a topic of controversy, with some seeing the website as a champion of free speech and transparency, while others view it as a threat to national security.

Regardless of one’s opinion, the publication of the documents provided by Manning and the subsequent fallout have had a lasting impact on the world of politics and national security.

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