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Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
How the Israel-Iran conflict is developing in cyberspace
As the conflict between Israel and Iran approaches the first-week mark, both countries are leaning into cyberspace to launch attacks. A possible Israeli-linked hacking group has claimed responsibility for disrupting operations at an Iranian bank and flooding the crypto market with approximately $90 million (€77 million) in stolen funds. Meanwhile, Israeli officials reported fake messages sent to the public alerting them of terrorist attacks against bomb shelters to sow panic. Both countries are also known for having a long history of cyberattacks against each other, according to US-based cybersecurity firm Radware. 'In the days since the fighting began, government-backed hackers, patriotic hacktivists, online propagandists, and opportunistic cybercriminals have all been active,' the company said in its threat alert dated June 18. The anti-Iranian hacking group with possible ties to Israel,Gonjeshke Darande, or 'Predatory Sparrow,' claimed an attack on one of Iran's most prominent banks, Bank Sepah, this week, according to a statement they published on X. Iranian media reported at the time that people had difficulties accessing their accounts, withdrawing cash or using their bank cards. The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Bank Sepah in 2018 for supporting Iran's military. The hacking group then went after Nobitex, one of Iran's main cryptocurrency exchanges. The group claimed they burned $90 million from accounts that belong to the Israeli regime and, by Thursday morning, had posted the source code for the platform. In a statement on X posted on Wednesday, Nobitex claimed that the assets were transferred to a wallet 'composed of arbitrary characters,' an approach they say 'deviates significantly from conventional crypto exchange hacks'. 'It is clear the intention behind this attack was to harm the peace of mind and assets of our fellow citizens under false pretences,' Nobitex wrote. Nobitex estimates the amount stolen is closer to $100 million (€87 million) The Iranian government has asked people to delete the social messaging app WhatsApp and has begun internet blackouts that have taken the country offline for 'over 12 hours' due to 'Israel's alleged 'misuse' of the network for military purposes,' according to internet monitoring companies Netblocks and Censys. Iran's Tasnim News Agency, a news service associated with the Iranian military, claimed the Internet blackouts are 'temporary' due to the 'special conditions of the country,' and that it will come back when the 'situation returns to normal'. Gonjeshke Darande has been linked to other cyber attacks in Iran, like the 2010 Stuxnet attack. Stuxnet was a computer virus that damaged or destroyed the centrifuges, a key component used to enrich uranium, at Iran's uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz, one of the facilities targeted in the recent missile fire from Israel. US media reports believe Stuxnet was carried out by Israel with support from the United States, who built the program. It's also believed that Israel's Defence Forces Unit 8200 was involved in the attack, according to Reuters. Gonjeshke Darande has also taken credit for other cyber attacks against Iran, such as the 2022 attack on Iran's steel plants and the 2023 attack on gas stations. At the time of the steel plant cyber attacks, Gonjeshke Darande released on social media what they called 'top secret documents and tens of thousands of emails' from Iran's three leading companies to show how the firms were working with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a primary branch of Iran's military. Israeli media reported people receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to come from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Home Front Command that warned of attacks onbomb shelters. The messages from OREFAlert were identified as fake by the Israeli authorities, who claim pro-Iranian groups are behind it as a way to sow panic during the operation against the Iranian military, called Operation Rising Lion. Another fake message circulated that said fuel supplies would be suspended for 24 hours, according to the Jerusalem Post. Ron Meyran, the VP of Cyber Threat Intelligence at US-based cybersecurity firm Radware, told the newspaper that there was a 700 per cent increase in cyberattacks against Israel in the first two days of the conflict with Iran, which comes from cyber retaliation from Iranian state actors. Those actions include infiltration attempts targeting critical infrastructure, data theft and malware distribution, Meyran added. Euronews Next reached out to Radware to independently confirm these numbers but did not hear back at the time of publication. A report from Radware says it expects Iran to make use of 'its well-developed network of fake social media personas to shape perceptions of the conflict.' 'During this crisis, observers have seen pro-Iran bot accounts amplifying hashtags about alleged Israeli atrocities and portraying Iran's actions as defensive,' the report said. The bots 'frequently pose as ordinary citizens to make the messaging more persuasive,' it added. Radware also noted in its report that at least 60 of the 100 hacktivist groups that have sprung up since the start of the conflict last week are pro-Iran and are either from the Middle East or Asia. These groups have launched 30 denial of service (DDos) attacks per day against Israel that disrupt normal traffic to a website, Radware found. Some of these groups have also threatened cyber attacks against the United Kingdom and the United States if leadership there decides to 'join the war against Iran'. Iran has a 'considerable number' of state-sponsored threat groups that have targeted Israel in the past, like Muddy Water, APT35 (OilRig), APT35 (Charming Kitten) and APT39 (Remix Kitten), the Radware report continued. These groups, with the help of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have targeted Israeli infrastructure, conducted malware campaigns and cyberespionage according to local media. These cyber attacks increased following the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in 2023, according to a 2024 report by Microsoft. A SpaceX rocket being tested in Texas exploded Wednesday night, sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky. The company said the Starship 'experienced a major anomaly' at about 11 pm local time while on the test stand preparing for the tenth flight test at Starbase, SpaceX's launch site at the southern tip of Texas. 'A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,' SpaceX said in a statement on the social platform X. Elon Musk's company SpaceX said there were no hazards to nearby communities. It asked people not to try to approach the site. The company said it is working with local officials to respond to the explosion.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iran foils Mossad plots, arrests 10 suspected spies amid escalating conflict
Shafaq News/ Iranian authorities announced a series of arrests on Wednesday involving individuals accused of espionage and sabotage on behalf of Israel's Mossad. In the most recent incident, nine women were apprehended while attempting to cross the border into Iraq through the Qasr-e Shirin region. The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Sarpol-e Zahab said the suspects were caught after being tracked for suspicious movements believed linked to Israeli intelligence. 'The operation was executed following intelligence surveillance of a network connected to Mossad,' he stated. In a separate but closely timed development, Brigadier General Ali Azadi, police chief of Iran's Kurdistan province, confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old Mossad operative in the northwestern city of Saqqez. Speaking to Tasnim News Agency, Azadi said the suspect had entered the province to gather intelligence and carry out acts of sabotage. Security forces reportedly seized remote detonation devices, explosives, and surveillance equipment from the suspect. The arrests come amid a sharp escalation in the Iran–Israel conflict, now in its sixth day, marked by reciprocal airstrikes and growing internal security crackdowns within Iran. Earlier this week, Iranian police also reported dismantling a separate Israeli-linked spy cell in the Fashafouyeh district of Rey Province, south of Tehran, during two separate raids. Officials claimed the cell was gathering intelligence for Israel and planning sabotage operations.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
IRGC confirms strikes on Mossad, airbases in latest missile wave
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iran launched the 12 th wave of missile strikes, targeting Israeli military and intelligence sites, while simultaneously confronting wide-scale cyberattacks and facing a near-total internet blackout. According to a statement by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the latest strikes hit Mossad and Israeli military intelligence (Aman) headquarters, as well as air force bases. Iranian media also reported the first-ever use of Sejjil heavy ballistic missiles—capable of striking targets up to 2,000 kilometers away—in this round of attacks. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported that it intercepted multiple missiles launched from Iran toward the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, with sirens activated across the city. The military spokespersons added that the Israeli army had struck several Iranian missile launch platforms and vowed to continue its operations against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal, citing Israeli officials, reported that Israel has destroyed 120 Iranian rocket platforms, significantly limiting Tehran's ability to sustain attacks. Explosions were heard in Tehran, as Iran's Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) confirmed injuries among its personnel following an Israeli strike on a national police headquarters. In cyberspace, Iran's Cybersecurity Command reported that Israeli-linked cyber units launched extensive attacks on the country's banking network, leading to service disruptions at two banks—one of which has since been restored. Authorities accused foreign applications of assisting Israel by collecting voice recordings and geolocation data used in military targeting. Iranian cyber defenses thwarted an attempted cyberattack on the state broadcasting authority, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Independent watchdog NetBlocks confirmed a 'near-total national internet blackout' in Iran, citing live network data. The outage follows earlier partial disruptions and comes amid escalating military tensions with Israel. ⚠️ Confirmed: Live network data show #Iran is now in the midst of a near-total national internet blackout; the incident follows a series of earlier partial disruptions and comes amid escalating military tensions with Israel after days of back-and-forth missile strikes 📉 — NetBlocks (@netblocks) June 18, 2025
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
5 facts on Strait of Hormuz, the focal point of global oil trade
Social media users on Monday shared photos claiming that three ships caught fire in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. While the authorities are yet to confirm these claims, here's five facts about what is the Strait of Hormuz and its significance. The strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and Oman and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south, and the Arabian Sea beyond. It is used for exporting crude oil to Asia by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have found other routes to bypass the strait. According to the US Energy Information Administration, about 20 percent of global oil consumption flows through the strait, and is the 'world's most important oil transit chokepoint'. Also read: Gulf of Oman: Ships on fire near Strait of Hormuz amid Israel-Iran conflict? Photos emerge In terms of its width, the strait is 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just three kilometers wide in either direction. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the shipping lanes in the waterway are even narrower, making them vulnerable to attacks and threats of being shut down. Over the years, Iran has threatened to block the Strait but has never gone through with the threat. If Iran decides to block the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key route for global oil shipments, the global oil prices could go higher. In 2024, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized an Israel-linked container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the Israeli-linked cargo ship named 'MSC Aries' had 17 Indians on board.
Asia Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Asia Times
Netanyahu's Iran strike is a well-laid trap for Trump
On the morning of June 13, 2025, explosions rang out over Tehran, shattering the fragile calm of the Islamic world's sacred day of prayer. The targets were reportedly Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. And unlike past episodes of strategic ambiguity, this operation was not denied. It was explicitly approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Within hours, Iran responded. Drones were launched in swift retaliation, hitting sites believed to be affiliated with Israeli-linked interests in the region. This cycle of provocation and reprisal is not new in the Middle East. But what makes this moment different is its timing, its international implications and the risk it now poses to the United States and global stability. Just months earlier, US President Donald Trump, newly returned to office, sharply rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump criticized Zelensky's refusal to negotiate with Russia as the root of prolonged conflict in Europe, warning that Kyiv's obstinacy could bring the world closer to World War III. Yet it is not Ukraine that has ignited a new regional firestorm. It is Netanyahu—an American ally—who has taken a unilateral military step that may now entangle Washington in a conflict it did not start and cannot control. The irony is sharp. Netanyahu's strike, reportedly conducted without prior coordination with the United States, which may or may not be true, comes at a time when the Biden and Trump administrations alike have signaled exhaustion with Middle Eastern entanglements. After two decades of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the American public's appetite for intervention is low. And yet, because of this one decision by an allied leader, the US may now find itself on the edge of another vortex—and one far more volatile than Ukraine. Iran's immediate retaliation should not have come as a surprise. Striking Tehran on a Friday—a day of spiritual unity for over a billion Muslims—was more than a military decision. It was a symbolic act, almost certain to provoke a visceral national and religious response. Iran's drones arrived by sunset. More will undoubtedly follow in the days ahead. Tehran has already warned it will consider American bases in Iraq, Syria, Qatar and Bahrain fair game, given what it perceives as US complicity with Israel. This is the trap. When allies act alone—especially in regions as fragile as the Middle East—they can implicate their partners in unintended wars. The United States did not overtly authorize this strike. But as long as it is seen as Israel's protector and arms supplier, it becomes vulnerable to the fallout. Washington's silence and obfuscation in the face of Netanyahu's recklessness risks being interpreted as consent. And in geopolitics, perception is reality. The consequences are already materializing. Brent crude oil jumped more than 10% by midday Kuala Lumpur time, with analysts warning of further volatility if the confrontation widens. For Southeast Asia, this matters deeply. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines—net oil importers—will face immediate inflationary pressure. Supply chains already under strain from Trump's renewed tariff regimes could buckle further. Capital markets, long wary of Middle East shocks, are on edge. This was not inevitable. Over the past year, there had been slow but promising progress in diplomatic engagement across civilizations. The ASEAN-GCC-China Summit marked one such effort—bringing together key actors from Southeast Asia, the Arab Gulf, and East Asia to focus on economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and regional connectivity. These efforts were never intended to replace hard power, but rather to soften its edges through dialogue. Netanyahu's pre-emptive strike threatens to undo that fragile momentum. Civilizational diplomacy cannot flourish amid a hail of missiles. Trust is harder to rebuild than it is to destroy. Domestically, Netanyahu may believe this operation strengthens his hand. He has long been politically embattled—dogged by corruption trials, mass protests and coalition pressures from ultranationalist partners. By launching a strike on Iran, he may hope to rally his base, distract from domestic dissent and portray himself as Israel's last line of defense. But this is a dangerous gamble. If Iran's retaliation expands or becomes more lethal, Israel's internal divisions may deepen. The trauma of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks has not healed. And polls in Israel suggest growing frustration with Netanyahu's leadership and the direction of the state. His attempt to appear strong could ultimately backfire. For Trump, this moment is equally precarious. He came back to office promising peace through strength, but without more wars. If US forces are attacked in the coming days—as Iran has threatened—he will be forced to choose between military response and political restraint. Either choice risks undercutting his narrative. What this moment demands is urgent diplomacy. The United States, with partners like Turkey, Qatar and even neutral European states, must reestablish backchannels to Tehran. Israel must be counseled—firmly—that escalation does not serve anyone's strategic interest, least of all its own. Iran, for its part, must understand that disproportionate retaliation could fracture what limited international sympathy it retains. There is still time to contain this crisis. But it requires clarity from Washington. Silence will only widen the misunderstanding. If Trump wants to avoid being dragged into another Middle Eastern war, he must make it clear—publicly—that the United States did not support this strike, and that any attack on US interests will be met with a proportional, not automatic, response. Great powers are often judged not by how they start wars, but by how they prevent them. Netanyahu's strike has lit the fuse. It is now up to others to make sure the fire doesn't reach the powder keg. The world is watching—not just Tehran and Tel Aviv, but Washington, Riyadh, Doha and Kuala Lumpur too. When allies act alone, the costs are never theirs alone.
