US Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (Shutterstock)
The Israeli embassy in the US and the White House denied the New York Times report.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency has reportedly elevated the counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to its highest category, citing concerns that Israeli intelligence may be seeking access to sensitive US decision-making related to the Middle East, The New York Times reported.
According to the report, which cited two current US officials and one former official, the Defense Intelligence Agency issued an internal message in recent weeks raising Israel’s threat level to “critical.”
The report said US officials are concerned that Israeli intelligence services may be collecting confidential information regarding high-level American deliberations connected to regional conflicts.
Although Israel remains a close US ally, officials cited by The New York Times said there is concern within the Pentagon that Israeli intelligence could obtain access to sensitive information not intended for sharing.
According to one official cited in the report, the internal document assessed Israel’s capability to conduct both human intelligence operations and technical intelligence collection at a “critical level.”
The report also said the document referenced a number of specific incidents that contributed to the heightened concerns, though no further details were provided.
Israel strongly rejected the allegations.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington said claims that Israel spies on the United States are “completely false.”
“Israel does not gather intelligence on American entities, let alone US government officials,” the spokesperson said. “Israel intelligence collection efforts are aimed at its enemies, not its allies. Any claims to the contrary are either misinformed or politically motivated.”
The Pentagon declined to comment on the report.
A White House official also disputed the account, saying: “This entire story is false and sourced to someone who doesn’t have any knowledge of what’s going on.”
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees US intelligence agencies including the Defense Intelligence Agency, did not respond to a request for comment, according to the report.
The report emerged as Israeli officials reportedly assess that Iran is bluffing in the current standoff and as President Donald Trump pursues a long-term ceasefire arrangement. It also comes amid comments by Lebanon’s president accusing Iran of using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in broader regional negotiations.
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