The CIA now assesses that COVID-19 likely originated from a laboratory accident in China rather than occurring naturally. The announcement comes just days into new Director John Ratcliffe's tenure, marking a dramatic departure from the agency's previously cautious stance.
"Our intelligence, science, and common sense all point to a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology," Ratcliffe declared in a Breitbart interview, making the pandemic's origin story a top priority for his administration.
The assessment, though classified as "low confidence," stems from analysis initiated during the Biden administration under former Director Bill Burns. Officials emphasize that no new intelligence prompted this conclusion; rather, it represents a fresh interpretation of existing evidence. The CIA maintains that both laboratory and natural origins remain plausible scenarios.
This position now aligns more closely with the FBI's earlier assessment, though the broader U.S. intelligence community remains divided. A 2023 report from the Office of the Director of Intelligence confirms unanimous agreement that COVID-19 wasn't engineered as a biological weapon, with most agencies concluding the virus wasn't genetically modified.
China's response was swift and sharp. Beijing officials dismissed the assessment as politically motivated, arguing for scientific cooperation over what they termed "baseless accusations."
The scientific community continues to debate the origins, with many researchers supporting a natural emergence at Wuhan's market, while others back the laboratory accident theory. As China maintains its resistance to international investigation, intelligence officials acknowledge that conclusive proof may remain elusive.
The timing of this disclosure is particularly notable, as sources indicate the intelligence work began during the Biden administration but remained unpublished until Ratcliffe's appointment.
In addition, Ratcliffe's decision to declassify and publicize this assessment is one of his first major moves as director, signaling a more assertive stance on an issue that has deeply strained U.S. - China relations since the pandemic's onset.
Kikar HaShabbat and CNN contributed to this article.
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