The US Department of Defense has reportedly upgraded Israel to the highest level of counterintelligence threat, citing growing concerns over alleged espionage activities within the United States. According to multiple American officials, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently classified Israel as a 'critical' threat following internal assessments. The move comes amid increasing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the Iran conflict and broader Middle East policy differences.

Officials claim Israel has intensified surveillance efforts targeting internal US policy discussions and decision-making processes related to the Middle East. A seven-page DIA report described Israel’s human and technical intelligence capabilities as 'very high' or 'critical,' referencing several incidents that have raised alarm within the Pentagon. Israel has categorically denied the allegations, stating that its intelligence operations target enemies, not allies. The Pentagon declined to comment, while the White House dismissed the report as baseless.

Analysts note that limited intelligence activity among allies is not new, but US officials believe Israel’s recent actions have exceeded normal boundaries. The new assessment is expected to prompt US officials to exercise greater caution during interactions with Israeli counterparts, though intelligence sharing between the two nations reportedly remains unaffected.