Mossad Secretly Wiretaps US Government, Trump Included in List
The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has raised the threat level of Israeli espionage to the highest level. This move comes amidst rising tensions between the United States and Israel regarding conflicts in the Middle East.
Citing NBC News and the New York Times, the assessment has been circulated internally over recent weeks. The seven-page document includes graphics assessing Israel’s human and technical intelligence collection capabilities as being at a ‘critical level’.
Several high-ranking US officials have become targets of these spying activities. Targets include Steve Witkoff, a key negotiator for President Donald Trump in talks with Iran, as well as Pentagon policy official Elbridge Colby and one of his deputies, Michael DiMino. US counterintelligence officials are reportedly increasingly concerned that these espionage activities aim to obtain in-depth information regarding the Trump administration’s considerations on the Iran and Lebanon issues.
The assessment report also cites specific incidents, though sources declined to identify them. A senior official testified to the New York Times regarding the aggressiveness of Israeli intelligence services since the beginning of Trump’s second term, stating that the activity has become ‘uncontrollable’.
While espionage between allies is common, the recent Israeli activities are deemed to have exceeded reasonable bounds, triggering the increased threat status. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the report, while a White House official told NBC that the entire story is false. A spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy in Washington also denied the report, calling it politically motivated and asserting that Israeli intelligence efforts are directed at enemies, not allies.
This report emerges amidst growing friction between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders are at odds over Iran and Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Although a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran was reached in early April and extended on 8 May, broader negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear programme remain deadlocked. Israel has openly questioned Trump’s diplomatic efforts, with Netanyahu pushing for new military actions, while simultaneously intensifying operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah since March.
Earlier this week, Trump admitted to reports that he had verbally reprimanded Netanyahu during a heated telephone conversation regarding military actions in Lebanon. Speaking on the New York Post’s ‘Pod Force One’ podcast, Trump confirmed the use of harsh language, stating, ‘I did say it,’ and adding that he was ‘disturbed by his continuous fighting in Lebanon.’
Previous reports suggest Trump accused Netanyahu of jeopardising US negotiations with Iran due to ongoing Israeli military operations. While Trump stated on Monday that the Israeli leader and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire—a sentiment echoed by the US State Department on Wednesday—fighting has continued into this week, with Israeli strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon resulting in numerous civilian casualties.