Pentagon DIA raises Israeli spying threat to critical
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- Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) upgraded the threat level on Israeli espionage from “high” to “critical” in recent weeks.
- NBC News broke the story on Friday, saying the DIA had raised the espionage threat level.
- The New York Times reported the DIA’s assessment followed a “late‑2024 uptick” in Israeli spying as Washington increased pressure on Israel over Gaza.
- Israel is alleged to have intensified surveillance of senior U.S. officials, including White House deliberations on the Iran war and specific figures such as Steve Witkoff, Elbridge Colby and Michael DiMino IV.
- Pentagon spokesperson called the reports “false,” even as the alleged espionage raises concerns about U.S.–Israel intelligence coordination.
Why it matters: The U.S. intelligence community now faces heightened scrutiny of Israeli espionage, potentially limiting joint operations and jeopardizing the billions in military aid Israel receives; Washington may tighten security protocols and rethink intelligence sharing.
