Iranian Hackers Target Israel’s Core Systems

NEWS DESK– In what security officials are calling a new era of “kinetic-cyber” warfare, Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies are scrambling to contain a massive wave of Iranian cyberattacks that have disrupted critical infrastructure and leaked sensitive personal data of top government officials.

The escalation follows the widening military conflict that began on February 28, 2026. According to the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), Iranian-linked hacking groups have shifted from traditional espionage to “destructive and psychological operations” designed to trigger civilian panic alongside physical missile strikes.

Simultaneously, the group known as Handala—which researchers at Check Point Software link to Iranian state interests—claimed to have wiped the servers of approximately 60 Israeli private firms. “These weren’t just data thefts; they were wiper attacks,” said a spokesperson for the INCD. “The goal was the total destruction of data belonging to engineering and legal firms to stall the Israeli economy.”

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The digital front has hit home for Israel’s elite. Israeli security sources confirmed that the personal emails and private files of former Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett were leaked online.

Furthermore, the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service) reported thwarting an attempt to hijack over 50 public security cameras. “The enemy is trying to use our own cameras to conduct battle damage assessment after missile strikes,” a senior Shin Bet official told The Times of Israel. “They are looking for real-time visual confirmation of where their missiles land.”

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The cyberwar has not remained confined to the Middle East. On March 11, the Handala group claimed responsibility for a massive breach of Stryker, a major U.S. medical technology corporation. The group posted screenshots on Telegram claiming to have disabled tens of thousands of devices.

On March 11, travelers across Israel were met with chaotic scenes as hackers successfully breached the Israel Railways network. According to a report by Haaretz, display monitors at several major stations were hijacked to broadcast threatening messages and false emergency instructions.

In a direct challenge to U.S. law enforcement, the group also claimed to have breached the personal email of FBI Director Kash Patel. While the FBI has not officially confirmed the extent of the breach, a statement from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that “Iranian-backed actors are aggressively targeting Western infrastructure in retaliation for support of Israel.”

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Israel has responded with what some analysts call “digital decapitation.” Following a massive disruption that reduced Iran’s national internet traffic to just 4% of its capacity, Israeli officials hinted at offensive operations.

“We have reduced our response time to cyber incidents from six hours to 30 minutes,” the head of the INCD stated during a press briefing yesterday. “For every attempt they make to blind us, we are ensuring they lose the ability to communicate entirely.”

As of late March, military analysts warn that the line between digital and physical warfare has blurred, with cyberattacks now serving as the “electronic artillery” preceding physical maneuvers on the ground.