SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket Monday (June 8) at 1013 UTC from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites (Group 10-35); with successful satellite deployment confirmed just over an hour later.

The Starlink Group 10-35 (or Starlink 395) mission set a new reusability record, as the first-stage booster, Booster 1067, completed its 35th launch and landing. The booster landed on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean, bringing the Falcon 9 closer to the overall reuse record held by NASA’s Space Shuttle orbiters at 39 flights.

Booster 1067 previously held the record with 34 flights, having launched on missions including CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, and numerous Starlink batches.

The 29 Starlink satellites deployed into Low Earth Orbit concluding Monday's mission, and expanding the constellation to over 10,580 active satellites.

Monday's launch was part of a high-frequency cadence, occurring one day after a separate Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base that carried 21 Starlink and two Starshield satellites. Today's launch was SpaceX's 66th Falcon 9 flight of the year and 660th completed mission its history.

Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israel, Sunday—the first such attack since an April ceasefire—in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut, that killed at least two people. In response, President Donald Trump urgently contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him not to retaliate and noting that the U.S. is "very close to a final deal" with Iran that could be signed early this week.

The strike targeted the Ramat David Air Base, which Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) called a "warning" while threatening "broader" responses if aggression continues.

Trump, in remarks to reporters, emphasized de-escalation and diplomatic progress. He told Axios, "I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate... Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike and Iran had its strike. We don't need another one."

Speaking to Fox News, Trump addressed Iran directly: "You've shot your missiles, that's enough. Get back to the table and make a deal." Regarding the negotiations, Trump stated, "We're very close. I would say an agreement would be signed on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this coming week," warning that an Israeli counter-strike would cause the conflict to continue for years. The Financial Times reported Trump asserting dominance over the situation, quoting him as saying, "I call the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn't call the shots."

Critics have pointed out that Israel has been trying to derail the US-Iran peace talks that may see Iran get access to its frozen and sanctioned assets, and live the Persian nation in formal control of ship transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite Sunday night's escalation, a senior U.S. official reported that Trump successfully convinced Netanyahu to "hold off for the time being" to allow diplomacy to proceed. The attack caused oil prices to jump nearly 3% to $95.79 and prompted the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to close and order employees to shelter in place.

The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has reportedly raised the counterintelligence threat level from Israel to "critical," the highest possible designation, citing aggressive espionage efforts against top U.S. officials amid diverging strategic goals regarding the war with Iran.

Israel is reportedly actively spying on senior US officials including Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Pentagon top policy adviser Elbridge Colby and his deputy Michael DiMino IV to gather intelligence on internal U.S. deliberations and peace negotiations.

The threat assessment cites specific incidents, including the discovery of surveillance software secretly installed on the phones of U.S. security personnel in Israel. Israeli internal security agency Shin Bet's operatives were found attempting to plant a listening device in a U.S. Secret Service vehicle in 2025.

The DIA noted an uptick in activities beginning in late 2024, following previous incidents such as Israeli military intelligence planting a device at DIA headquarters in 2021.

The heightened US intelligence alert coincides with public clashes between President Donald Trump, who seeks a diplomatic end to the war with Iran, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has pushed for resumed military operations.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington labeled the reports "completely false," stating that Israel does not gather intelligence on American entities. The Pentagon declined to comment.

U.S. officials anticipate increased use of burner phones and stricter security protocols when traveling to Israel, though high-level intelligence sharing regarding the Iran war reportedly continues.