Pentagon raises Israel spy threat level to ‘critical’, NBC report

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has reportedly raised its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the highest possible level, citing growing concerns over alleged Israeli espionage activities targeting senior US officials, according to a report by NBC News.

The Defence Intelligence Agency (Defense Intelligence Agency) has upgraded Israel’s designation to “critical” in recent weeks, based on intelligence assessments shared by current and former US officials cited in the report. The move signals heightened sensitivity within Washington’s security establishment over foreign surveillance risks.

According to officials, the concern stems from what they describe as increasingly aggressive intelligence-gathering efforts aimed at understanding internal US decision-making, particularly regarding Middle East policy under the Trump administration. The focus reportedly includes high-level deliberations on conflicts involving Iran and Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.

A classified seven-page document allegedly outlines several incidents that contributed to the upgraded threat assessment, though specific details have not been made public. The report suggests that Israeli intelligence activity has intensified during a period of heightened regional tensions and political uncertainty.

Relations between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have also reportedly become strained in recent weeks, particularly over disagreements regarding military action against Iran and ongoing operations in Lebanon. A recent phone call between the two leaders was described by officials as tense.

Israeli authorities strongly rejected the allegations. The Israeli Embassy in Washington stated that the claims are “completely false,” denying any intelligence operations targeting US government officials. The White House also dismissed the report, while the Pentagon declined to provide comment.

Despite the denials, security experts say the development reflects long-standing concerns within intelligence circles about close allies engaging in advanced surveillance activities. Emily Harding, vice president at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, described Israel’s intelligence apparatus as “hyper-aggressive,” adding, “They are exceedingly interested in what we are up to.”

The report highlights the delicate balance in US-Israel relations, where deep strategic cooperation coexists with periodic tensions over security, diplomacy, and regional military strategy.

As geopolitical pressures rise across the Middle East, the alleged intelligence concerns underscore growing mistrust even among close allies, raising new questions about transparency and espionage boundaries within global partnerships.