Pentagon raises counterintelligence threat level on Israel to 'critical' over fears of spying on US officials

The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has raised the assessed threat level on Israeli espionage from "high" to "critical" in recent weeks, according to reports by NBC News and The New York Times citing anonymous US officials. The move follows growing concern that Israeli intelligence is attempting to surveil top American officials to glean information on internal White House deliberations regarding the war with Iran and ongoing peace negotiations.

Targets of surveillance

The reports identify several senior US figures as targets of the alleged Israeli efforts. Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy and lead negotiator on Iran, is named as a primary target. Elbridge A. Colby, the Pentagon's top policy official, and his deputy Michael P. DiMino IV are also cited. The New York Times noted that both Colby and DiMino advocate for a more isolationist foreign policy that would reduce US support for Israel. The officials are described as particularly vulnerable because they travel on private jets, handle national security matters on personal phones, and decline support from US embassy staff abroad.

Israeli intelligence activities are directed at enemies, not allies. Any claim to the contrary is the result of disinformation or is driven by political motivations.

A seven-page assessment

The DIA produced a seven-page document, accompanied by a chart, detailing Israel's capabilities. It states that Israel's ability to conduct human espionage and technical collection has reached a "critical level" and cites a series of specific incidents that heightened US concerns. While officials acknowledge that allies routinely spy on one another, those who spoke to NBC News said recent Israeli activities went well beyond normal and predictable intelligence practices. One senior US official told The New York Times that Israel has always pursued "aggressive collection" against both allies and adversaries, but that the situation has now reached an "uncontrolled" level.

Fraying relations between Trump and Netanyahu

The intelligence alert comes amid a sharp deterioration in the relationship between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders have publicly diverged on the path forward in the war against Iran, which began with joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28. Trump is pushing for a peace agreement, while Netanyahu seeks to further degrade Iran's capabilities and target Hezbollah in Lebanon. Axios reported that Trump had a heated phone call with Netanyahu, calling him "completely crazy" over threats to bomb Beirut, which Trump fears would undermine US talks with Tehran. Trump later confirmed to the New York Post that he had a vehement exchange with Netanyahu and was unhappy with Israeli policy in Lebanon.

I had a very tough conversation with him. I'm not happy with what they're doing in Lebanon.

Official denials

The White House called the spying reports "false," and the Israeli embassy in Washington issued a firm denial. The Pentagon responded with a "no comment." Despite the denials, one official revealed that figures like Witkoff already take extra precautions when traveling to Israel. The DIA document also noted an uptick in Israeli intelligence activities beginning in late 2024, when the Biden administration was increasing pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza, and continuing into 2025 as Trump began deliberating on Iran policy.

Broader institutional tensions

Italian daily Il Messaggero reported that the leak reflects a battle within US institutions over relations with Tel Aviv. A significant faction does not trust Israel at this moment, citing attempts to sabotage the ceasefire and accelerate military operations rather than end the conflict. The report notes that Section 224 of the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act proposes integrating US-Israeli weapons research and production in areas like artificial intelligence, directed energy, and biotechnology, aiming to prevent White House frustration from causing a broader rupture in the decades-old alliance.