Which US Officials Are Being Targeted by Israeli Surveillance? Pentagon Flag Major Espionage Threat

Last Updated:June 07, 2026, 10:21 IST

The Pentagon raised its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the "critical" level, signalling growing US concerns over alleged Israeli surveillance.

Several US intelligence reports have increasingly raised concerns about Israel spying on senior American officials, raising fears over a counterintelligence threat and showing signs of strain between the two longstanding allies amid disagreements over the war against Iran.

The Pentagon had earlier raised its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to the highest “critical" level, signalling growing US concerns over alleged Israeli surveillance of senior American officials. Israel has so far denied the claims.

Both countries have long known and tolerated espionage attempts by each other. However, some American officials told The New York Times that an Israeli effort has crossed a line during recent talks with Iran aimed at halting the war.

Who Are The Targets Of Israeli Surveillance?

As per the report, Israel has stepped up its efforts to eavesdrop on senior American officials, including President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, the Pentagon’s top policy official Elbridge A Colby, and one of his deputies, Michael P DiMino IV. Of these officials, Colby has advocated for a restrained foreign policy.

According to a report by the Defence Intelligence Agency and other military intelligence offices, the counterintelligence threat by Israel has increased in recent weeks to the top level, from high to critical, including various efforts to spy on American military personnel and government officials.

A US official told NBC News that the DIA’s assessment identified several specific incidents that contributed to growing concerns over Israeli surveillance inside the US defence establishment. Senior US officials told the NYT that Israel is looking for insights into Trump’s strategy and shifting stances on the peace talks.

ALSO READ: ‘Spying Among Friends’: Pentagon’s Israel Alert Reignites Snowden-Era Controversy

One official described the aggressiveness of Israeli intelligence collection on top US officials as “unhinged". Two senior military officials said the Pentagon was aware that American personnel, particularly those serving in Israel or with Israeli counterparts, were well aware of the counterintelligence risks.

The DIA assessment came after several US defence personnel in Israel detected that software to tap their communications had been secretly installed on their phones. Senior US representatives often use burner phones while speaking in hotel rooms during trips to Israel.

How Will It Affect Iran Talks?

The reports come at a time when differences have emerged between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over developments in West Asia, leading to a tense exchange last week. The two leaders have reportedly disagreed over the war with Iran and Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

The new alerts could potentially complicate efforts to further integrate military war planning between US Central Command and Israel, which have worked closely together in the military offensive against Iran. The Pentagon may impose new restrictions on information shared with Israeli officers.

Israeli counterintelligence reports on US officials are not new. The recent report said such surveillance began increasing in late 2024, when the Biden administration pressured Israel into halting its attacks on Gaza. Last year, officers from Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, were found to have tried to plant a listening device in a Secret Service vehicle.

In 2021, Israeli military intelligence officers were caught planting listening devices at DIA headquarters.

About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int...Read More

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