Israel has been aggressively spying on top US officials, which is bad news for the US-Israel relationship and a sign of how strained the alliance has become.

• Two intelligence reports say Israel ramped up eavesdropping on senior US officials during Trump's second term, calling the effort "unhinged."
• Targets include Trump's lead negotiator Steve Witkoff and Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, who favors a more restrained foreign policy.
• The spying jumped as the US weighed peace talks with Iran — Israel wants to block any deal that ends the conflict.
• Past incidents include trying to bug a Secret Service vehicle and planting listening devices at a US intelligence headquarters.
• Israel's threat level was raised to "critical," now rated higher than some enemy countries.
• Israel is also spending big on PR, hiring Hollywood producers and ad firms to improve its battered image with Americans.

Outlook: Expect more friction over Iran policy as Israel keeps gathering intelligence to steer US decisions its way.