The Pentagon has reportedly elevated its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the highest classification level, reflecting growing concerns within parts of the US defense and intelligence community about alleged Israeli efforts to gather information on senior American officials and internal policy deliberations.
The designation was recently circulated in an internal notice by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), which classified Israel as a "critical" counterintelligence threat, according to a report by NBC News. The report, citing two current US officials and one former US official, said American intelligence personnel have become increasingly concerned that Israeli operatives are seeking information related to the Trump administration's internal discussions on the ongoing conflict with Iran and diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.
The reported assessment comes despite decades of close intelligence cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem. According to the exclusive report by the outlet, intelligence-sharing between the two countries continues, although some American personnel have reportedly been instructed to adopt stricter security measures when engaging with Israeli counterparts. Officials cited in the report said those precautions include heightened communications security and increased scrutiny of sensitive discussions.
Israel's Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations. In a statement quoted by i24NEWS, the embassy said Israel "does not gather intelligence on American entities, let alone US government officials." A White House official also disputed the report, describing it as false, while the Pentagon declined to comment publicly on the matter.
The reported move comes during a period of growing strain in parts of the US-Israel relationship. Disagreements have emerged over Israel's military operations in Lebanon and their impact on broader regional diplomacy involving Iran. Recent diplomatic efforts have focused on maintaining a fragile ceasefire framework linked to the wider conflict that began after US and Israeli strikes against Iran earlier this year.
Tensions between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have drawn increased attention in recent weeks. Axios reported that Trump intervened to halt planned Israeli strikes on Beirut after Iranian officials threatened to suspend negotiations with Washington over Israel's military actions in Lebanon. The report said Trump personally urged Netanyahu to avoid actions that could further complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Additional reporting by The Guardian described disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over the pace and scope of Israeli military operations in Lebanon. The publication reported that US officials have pushed for measures aimed at preventing a broader regional escalation while negotiations with Iran remain active.
The concerns outlined in the reported DIA assessment center on intelligence-gathering activities rather than any disruption of military cooperation. According to officials cited by NBC News, the designation reflects fears that Israeli intelligence agencies are seeking greater visibility into American policymaking related to the wars involving Iran, Hezbollah and other regional actors.
The issue of espionage between allied nations is not new. Intelligence experts have long noted that friendly governments frequently collect information on one another despite maintaining close diplomatic and security partnerships. However, officials cited by NBC News said the concerns prompting the latest designation were viewed as more serious than routine intelligence activity.
The report also highlighted longstanding security precautions used by some US officials traveling to Israel. According to current and former officials, American personnel have at times relied on temporary communications devices and heightened operational security procedures while conducting sensitive meetings in the country. Similar details were reported by The Week, which cited concerns among US officials about protecting classified information and policy discussions.
The reported assessment surfaced as fighting continues across several fronts in the Middle East. While the United States and Iran remain engaged in indirect negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict, violence has persisted in Lebanon, where clashes involving Israel and Hezbollah have repeatedly tested ceasefire arrangements. Recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and ongoing disagreements over ceasefire terms have added pressure to broader diplomatic efforts in the region, according to The Associated Press.
Neither the Pentagon nor the Defense Intelligence Agency has publicly confirmed the reported classification change. As of Saturday, US and Israeli officials continued to publicly emphasize the importance of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries, even as questions surrounding intelligence activities and regional policy differences drew increased scrutiny.
