The Pentagon has elevated its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to its highest level, describing the country’s espionage capabilities as “critical,” according to US media reports.
According to NBC News, citing American officials, the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) warned that Israel possesses a “critical level” ability to conduct both human intelligence operations and advanced technical surveillance against the United States.
The heightened warning follows concerns within Washington that Israeli intelligence agencies may have attempted to gather sensitive information regarding the Trump administration’s internal discussions and policy decisions related to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The New York Times reported that Israeli efforts allegedly included attempts to monitor communications involving senior US officials, including President Donald Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff and the Pentagon’s top policy official Elbridge Colby.
Relations between Washington and Tel Aviv have reportedly become increasingly strained since the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, an operation that escalated regional tensions and contributed to a wider conflict.
Recent reports from Axios and ABC News also suggested friction between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump reportedly expressed strong frustration during a phone call over Israel’s threats to launch attacks on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, amid sensitive diplomatic efforts involving Tehran.
The latest intelligence assessment highlights growing concerns within the US defense establishment over Israeli espionage activities and signals a new phase of tension in the traditionally close US-Israel security relationship.
