The latest
The Pentagon has raised its internal assessment of Israeli intelligence-related risks to the highest warning level, according to NBC News, citing U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The report said the move reflects growing concerns within parts of the U.S. intelligence community that Israel is seeking insight into internal Trump administration deliberations on Iran, including military planning and diplomatic negotiations.
According to NBC, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently circulated a counterintelligence assessment that classified Israeli human intelligence and technical collection capabilities at a “Critical” threat level.
Details
• U.S. officials told NBC that the assessment was driven by concerns that Israel is attempting to gather information about decision-making inside the Trump administration on the Middle East conflict and Iran policy.
• The report cited a seven-page DIA document that reportedly highlighted several developments that increased concern among U.S. intelligence officials.
• The Israeli Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations, saying Israel does not conduct intelligence operations against U.S. officials and focuses its efforts on adversaries rather than allies.
• A White House official also rejected the report, describing its claims as “completely fabricated.”
• The report comes amid signs of growing disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over Iran and the future of U.S. policy toward Tehran.
• The New York Times reported recently that Israeli officials felt increasingly sidelined from U.S.-Iran discussions and were relying more heavily on regional contacts to understand the talks.
• The new guidance reportedly requires stricter security precautions for U.S. officials traveling to Israel, including tighter restrictions on communications and handling sensitive information.
• Despite the concerns, intelligence and military cooperation between the United States and Israel remains unchanged, according to officials cited in the report.
What to watch
The report highlights growing tensions over Iran policy at a sensitive moment in the region. While the U.S.-Israel security partnership remains deep, continued disagreements over Tehran could add further strain to an already complicated relationship.
