On March 27, 2011, Clinton's longtime close adviser Sidney Blumenthal briefed her about allied special forces activities to undermine then Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

"An extremely sensitive source added that the rebels are receiving direct assistance and training from a small number of Egyptian Special Forces units, while French and British Special Operations troops are working out of bases in Egypt, along the Libyan border," Blumenthal wrote to Clinton.

Blumenthal was never hired by the State Department in any office capacity, but he was one of Clinton's closest and most influential advisers, the published e-mails reveal.

"These troops are overseeing the transfer of weapons and supplies to the rebels," he added.

Blumenthal has no specialized expertise or experience covering the Middle East, but he sent Clinton numerous, long-detailed reports on Libya, combining intelligence assessments, political analysis and rumours.

All the e-mails addressed "Sid"[ney Blumenthal] and "Hillary" [Clinton].