Pentagon raises threat of Israeli spying to 'critical': U.S. media

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The Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the highest possible level — "critical" — according to reports from US media, citing anonymous officials. The move signals heightened concerns that Israeli intelligence agencies may be attempting to spy on senior US officials to gain insight into the Trump administration's decision-making on the Middle East.

NBC News first reported the assessment on Friday, citing two US officials, and The New York Times followed with its own report the next day. The Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reportedly upgraded the threat level from "high" to "critical," a designation described as the most serious in its internal system.

Coverage comparison

The story has been picked up by outlets worldwide, including Al Jazeera, The Jerusalem Post, TASS, and The Hindu. While most reports attribute the initial information to NBC News and The New York Times, there are slight variations in how the threat level is described. TASS, citing NBC, refers to the Pentagon's "intel directorate" publishing a new counterintelligence assessment. The Jerusalem Post, citing NBC, says an internal memo by the DIA raised the level for Israel to "critical." Al Jazeera and The Hindu both state the Pentagon raised the counterintelligence threat level to its highest category.

The Pentagon itself has not issued a public statement on the matter, and the reports rely on anonymous sources. The White House has reportedly dismissed the espionage allegations, with a spokesperson telling NBC that the reports were unfounded.

Key claims

The central claim, reported by multiple outlets, is that the DIA has assessed Israel's espionage threat to the US as "critical." This assessment is said to reflect concerns about Israeli efforts to collect information on US officials, military personnel, and policy discussions — particularly those related to the war with Iran.

A specific focus, according to The New York Times, is on officials involved in shaping US policy toward Iran, including President Trump's top negotiator, Steve Witkoff, and the Pentagon's top policy official, Elbridge Colby.

The reports emerge amid tensions between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war with Iran. The US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, but the two leaders have publicly diverged on how to proceed. Trump has expressed a desire to end the war, while Netanyahu has advocated for continued military action, despite an April 8 ceasefire that has largely held.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington has denied the espionage allegations. A spokesperson stated: "Israel intelligence collection efforts are aimed at its enemies, not its allies." The embassy called reports of espionage "completely false."

Perspectives

The reports highlight a complex moment in US-Israeli relations. While Israel is often described as the US's closest ally in the Middle East, this is not the first time espionage concerns have surfaced. Reports note previous incidents, including the Jonathan Pollard affair, in which an American intelligence analyst was convicted of spying for Israel.

Tensions between Trump and Netanyahu have been reported in recent weeks, with Axios and ABC News reporting that Trump launched a profanity-laced tirade at Netanyahu over Israel's threats to bomb Beirut, fearing it would undermine talks with Tehran.

The DIA's assessment, if accurate, would mark an escalation in official concerns about Israeli intelligence activities. However, without official confirmation, the reports remain based on anonymous sources, and the Pentagon has not commented publicly.

The situation is further complicated by ongoing congressional deliberations over a defence bill that would deepen US-Israeli military research and development integration, according to reports. This juxtaposition — of heightened espionage threat and closer military ties — suggests a relationship under strain but still strategically intertwined.

As the war with Iran continues and peace talks stall, the reported threat assessment underscores the fragility of trust between Washington and Jerusalem, even as they navigate a shared conflict.