U.S. raises counterintelligence alert to highest level over Israel's alleged eavesdropping

The United States has reportedly elevated its counterintelligence threat level against Israel to the highest "grave" category, a significant escalation driven by concerns over Israeli espionage activities targeting American officials. This decision comes amid reports that Israel has intensified its intelligence gathering, including eavesdropping on high-ranking U.S. figures involved in sensitive negotiations, particularly concerning Iran.

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Israel is not acting like a friend.

According to U.S. media reports, the Defense Intelligence Agency recently assessed the counterintelligence threat from Israel as "high" and has now upgraded it to "grave." Other intelligence agencies have also raised concerns that Israel has increased its eavesdropping operations against senior U.S. officials. These officials include Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Michael DeMarco. One senior U.S. official described Israel's actions as having "crossed the line" and stated that Israel is "not acting like a friend."

This heightened threat level places Israel at the top among U.S. allies, with its classification exceeding that of some adversarial nations. South Korea is mentioned as being the only other U.S. ally with a "high" threat rating in specific circumstances, indicating the exceptional nature of the concerns regarding Israel. Past incidents, such as the discovery of listening devices planted by Israeli intelligence agents at the Defense Intelligence Agency headquarters in 2021 and attempts to place devices on U.S. Secret Service vehicles, underscore a pattern of intelligence activity that has now prompted this severe U.S. response.

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The Israeli military intelligence agents secretly installed listening devices at the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency in 2021.

The reports suggest that Israel's intelligence operations surged in late 2024, coinciding with the Biden administration's pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war. The activity further intensified this year as the Trump administration considered actions against Iran. The U.S. is particularly concerned about Israel's efforts to gain insight into American positions during negotiations with Iran, viewing these actions as a serious breach of trust and a threat to U.S. interests. The article implies that Israel's actions are driven by its own strategic interests, even at the expense of its relationship with its closest ally.

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Israel's intelligence activities began to surge in late 2024, when the former Biden administration was pressing Israel to end the Gaza war, and intensified this year as the Trump administration considered attacking Iran.