Pentagon elevates Israel counterintelligence threat to ‘critical’ amid Iran war tensions
The highest alert designation follows diplomatic friction between Washington and Jerusalem over military operations in Iran and Lebanon, though high-level intelligence sharing continues.
The Pentagon has elevated the counterintelligence threat level for Israel to “critical,” the highest possible designation, citing concerns that Israeli intelligence is intensifying surveillance of senior US officials. The Defense Intelligence Agency issued the assessment in recent weeks, according to two current and one former US official, as tensions rise between the two allies over the conduct of the war with Iran.
The internal seven-page document, which includes a chart classifying Israel’s ability to conduct human espionage and technical collection, indicates that the threat level has been raised due to perceived efforts by Israeli intelligence to access information on the Trump administration’s internal deliberations. Officials stated that the assessment identifies a series of specific incidents that heightened US concerns, although it remains unclear if a single event triggered the decision.
Both the Israeli Embassy in Washington and the White House have strongly denied the allegations. An Israeli spokesperson described the claims as “completely false,” asserting that Israel’s intelligence collection is directed at its enemies rather than allies. A White House official added that the report was sourced from someone with no knowledge of current events, dismissing the story entirely.
The heightened alert coincides with significant diplomatic friction between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump recently acknowledged calling Netanyahu “crazy” during a tense phone call, reflecting diverging strategies on the conflict. While Trump has pursued a diplomatic deal with Iran following a ceasefire in early April, Israel has expressed skepticism regarding Iranian compliance and pushed for resumed bombing raids.
Despite the elevated threat level, high-level intelligence sharing regarding the Iran conflict remains unaffected. However, US officials are expected to exercise increased caution when visiting Israel, a practice already common due to Israel’s reputation for aggressive intelligence gathering. This includes the use of burner phones and computers, and exercising extreme vigilance in hotel rooms, reflecting long-standing concerns about espionage even among close allies.
