March 10, 2026
Former CIA Officer Reveals US and Israeli Collaboration with Extremist Groups
In a candid 2025 interview on the program Going Underground, Susan Miller, who served as the former chief of the CIA station in Tel Aviv, discussed longstanding intelligence practices in the Middle East. She described close coordination between the CIA and Israel’s Mossad, including tactical partnerships with groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS.
Miller explained that CIA officers operated under special covert authorizations that permitted direct meetings and interactions with designated enemies. She stated that these arrangements facilitated collaboration in Iraq and Syria aimed at efforts to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al Assad. According to her account, the approach treated such groups as tools for achieving specific geopolitical objectives, even while publicly labeling them as adversaries.
She noted a shift in focus following the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Miller indicated that similar dynamics have since been redirected toward countering Iran, with the same extremist networks repurposed in ongoing regional strategies. She praised the working relationship with Israeli counterparts, describing them as highly aligned in mindset and operational style, almost American in their approach.
The remarks have reignited debates about proxy warfare, covert action ethics, and the complex realities of intelligence alliances. While programs like the now discontinued Timber Sycamore initiative involved supporting anti Assad rebels, some of whom had extremist ties, Miller’s comments emphasize intelligence sharing and pragmatic engagements over direct funding in her telling. Her statements highlight how strategic necessities can blur traditional lines between allies and foes in pursuit of broader policy goals.
