The Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence threat level regarding Israel, citing increased concerns over Israeli espionage activities targeting the U.S. This assessment was issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) amid rising tensions between the two nations related to the ongoing conflict with Iran. According to U.S. officials, the threat level for Israel has been classified as 'critical.'
The DIA's assessment includes a detailed document outlining Israel's capabilities in human espionage and technical collection. It reportedly identifies specific incidents that have heightened U.S. concerns. In response, an Israeli embassy spokesperson stated that claims of Israeli espionage on the U.S. are 'completely false' and politically motivated, asserting that Israel's intelligence efforts are directed at its adversaries.
A White House official also dismissed the report as false, attributing it to a source lacking knowledge of the situation. While espionage among allies is common, current and former U.S. officials noted that Israel's recent activities have exceeded typical expectations. The heightened alert follows a tense phone call between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which Trump reportedly expressed frustration with Netanyahu's approach to the conflict with Iran.
Despite the raised threat level, there appears to be no immediate impact on the daily intelligence-sharing practices between the U.S. and Israel. U.S. officials are expected to exercise additional caution during visits to Israel, as the country is known for its aggressive intelligence collection methods. The U.S. maintains extensive counterintelligence efforts to safeguard its state secrets and monitor espionage activities by both adversaries and allies.
