The Pentagon has reportedly raised its counterintelligence threat assessment regarding the Israeli occupation amid growing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the war on Iran and military operations across West Asia
According to current and former US officials cited by NBC News Saturday, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently elevated the counterintelligence threat level associated with the Israeli regime to its highest category, citing concerns about efforts to gather information on internal US policy discussions and decision-making.
The report states that the DIA circulated an internal assessment warning that Israeli intelligence capabilities, including human intelligence and technical collection, were operating at a "critical" level.
Intelligence concerns emerge amid policy disagreements
US officials told NBC News that concerns within the Pentagon center on the possibility that Israeli intelligence agencies are seeking insight into the Trump administration's deliberations regarding Iran, Lebanon, and broader regional policy.
The reported assessment comes as relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu face renewed strain over the future of the war on Iran.
Since a ceasefire was reached in April, Trump has pursued negotiations aimed at ending the war permanently, while Netanyahu has reportedly advocated a more confrontational approach toward Iran and continued military pressure in Lebanon.
According to the report, Pentagon officials fear that intelligence collection efforts may be focused on determining whether Washington intends to resume large-scale military operations against Iran or pursue a diplomatic settlement.
Longstanding concerns over espionage
Current and former officials have stressed that senior American officials often take additional security precautions when traveling to the occupied Palestinian territories, including using temporary communication devices and limiting sensitive discussions.
Experts noted that intelligence gathering among allies is not uncommon, but some former officials argued that recent concerns go beyond routine espionage practices. The issue also recalls the case of Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted in the 1980s of passing classified US intelligence to "Israel", a scandal that strained relations between the two allies for years.
Former officials warned that allegations of espionage at a time of increasing policy divergence could further erode trust between the two governments and complicate coordination on regional security issues.
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