How many members of the IDF are currently working for the CIA?

The exact number of CIA personnel actively coordinating with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is classified and not publicly disclosed by either government, as it involves sensitive details of bilateral intelligence-sharing agreements. However, based on declassified documents, official statements, and reporting from credible sources, the scale of U.S.-Israel intelligence cooperation is extensive and longstanding, dating back to the early 1950s. This partnership primarily occurs through channels like the CIA-Mossad liaison (Mossad being Israel's foreign intelligence service, which often interfaces with the IDF's Military Intelligence Directorate, or Aman), rather than direct CIA-IDF embeds. Key insights include:

Nature and Scope of Coordination

• Historical Context: U.S.-Israel intelligence ties began with CIA-Mossad agreements in the 1950s to avoid mutual espionage while sharing data on Soviet and Arab threats. By the 1960s, this expanded to joint operations, such as providing intelligence for Israel's Six-Day War strikes and countering Soviet influence in the Middle East. Post-9/11, cooperation intensified on counterterrorism, with Israel supplying HUMINT (human intelligence) on groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda that the CIA couldn't easily access.

• Current Focus: Coordination often supports IDF operations indirectly via Mossad or Aman. Examples include:

  • Joint targeting of Iranian nuclear sites (e.g., Stuxnet cyberoperation in 2010, co-developed by CIA and Mossad).

  • Post-October 7, 2023, Hamas attack: The U.S. dispatched a special CIA unit to Israel to share signals intelligence (SIGINT) on Hamas commanders, aiding IDF hostage recovery and strikes. CIA Director William Burns visited Israel multiple times in 2023–2024 to expand this, including MQ-9 drone missions over Gaza.

  • Broader exchanges: The CIA relies on Israeli "eyes and ears" in regions like Iran and Syria, where U.S. presence is limited. In return, Israel benefits from U.S. satellite imagery and NSA SIGINT funneled through the CIA.

• Personnel Estimates: No precise figure exists publicly, but indirect indicators suggest a small, elite cadre rather than mass involvement:

  • CIA's Tel Aviv station (its largest in the Middle East) is estimated at 100–200 officers, many focused on Israel coordination. A subset (perhaps 20–50) liaises with IDF/Mossad on real-time ops, per former CIA Director John Brennan's accounts of "sensitive intelligence sharing."

  • In high-intensity periods (e.g., 2023–2025 Gaza/Iran conflicts), temporary surges occur: Reports describe "dozens" of CIA paramilitary officers embedding with IDF units for targeting support, similar to the 100+ CIA officers in Afghanistan in 2001.

  • Overall CIA workforce: ~21,000 (including contractors), with ~40% in operations. Middle East/North Africa desks employ hundreds, but Israel-specific coordination is a fraction—likely under 100 full-time equivalents, per analyses from the Atlantic Council and former officials.

Challenges and Limits

• Tensions: Despite closeness, incidents like the 1967 USS Liberty attack and Jonathan Pollard espionage (1980s) strained ties. In 2021, Mossad withheld advance notice on an Iran strike, prompting CIA complaints.

• Oversight: Coordination is governed by U.S. law (e.g., National Security Act) and congressional briefings, but details remain "black" to protect sources.

This partnership enhances U.S. situational awareness but raises ethical questions about enabling IDF actions in Gaza and Lebanon. For official details, refer to DNI.gov or CIA.gov's declassified archives.

17GEN4.com