The New York Times, citing informed sources, reported that U.S. government investigators put about 50 members of the joint chiefs of staff of this country’s armed forces on lie-detector tests in connection with the leaking of information to journalists, including in relation to important U.S. ammunition reserves in the Iran war.

According to the report, investigators asked military officers and civilian employees whether they had provided classified information, including information related to the depletion of U.S. ammunition reserves, to journalists.

The tests were carried out in August and after the publication of reports about shortages of key munitions, including long-range missiles and Patriot interceptor missiles.

The New York Times reported that conducting extensive polygraph tests on this scale among senior U.S. military officials has been unprecedented.

Sean Parry, a Pentagon spokesman, said the ministry does not comment on internal matters involving personnel or investigations, but “takes all cases involving the leaking of classified information related to national security very seriously and, on that basis, investigates them.”