THEIran reported a massive cyber attack which hit several crucial infrastructures, including the country's nuclear facilities. The former secretary of the National Virtual Space Center, Abolhassan Firouzabadi, said the amount of simultaneous attacks was without precedent and hit the three main branches of government: the judiciary, the parliament and the nuclear industry. Firouzabadi stressed that during the attack there was a large amount of sensitive information was stolen, although the exact date of the attacks was not specified.
Among the hackers' targets were also the fuel distribution and transport networks, municipalities and ports.
Israeli Cyberattack? Meanwhile, it's nuclear alert
The attack on the nuclear facilities has raised a wave of international concern. Iran has said that the facilities involved are part of the civil nuclear program, but given the secrecy of Iran's nuclear program and geopolitical tensions with Israel and other Western powers, there are fears that the attack could have cpolitical and diplomatic consequences far-reaching.
The cyberattack on Iranian nuclear facilities is not an isolated incident. In recent years, the country has suffered numerous attempts at cyber sabotage, including the infamous Stuxnet virus, which in 2010 severely damaged centrifuges used for uranium enrichment. Iran has accused Israel and the United States in the past of being behind such operations, and the possibility that this attack is part of a broader strategy is not excluded.
This cyber attack could represent the first step of the offensive declared by Israel against Iran. For days, there has been discussion about a possible Israeli response to the ballistic missile attacks launched by Iran, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called "among the most serious in history", promising a "serious and significant" response. Netanyahu has accused theIran to be the instigator of all recent aggressions against Israel, stressing that the country has the “right and duty” to defend itself. If the cyber attack is confirmed to be the work of Israel, it could mark the beginning of a broader and more forceful military response.
New flight restrictions over Iran
In response to this cyber attack, the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran has issued new restrictions on electronic communication devices on board airplanes. “Airplane passengers are prohibited to carry on board or in hold baggage any electronic communication device, except mobile phones,” he said Jafar Yazerlou, spokesman for the agency. The measure was taken after explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies were used in targeted attacks against Hezbollah members.
Iran thus further raises the alert level for prevent internal sabotage or attacks by external agents. Flight security has become a top priority as Tehran seeks to minimize the risk of further digital or physical infiltration.
Mystery over the fate of the Pasdaran leader
In this context of growing tension, news emerges regarding Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force, who had gone to Beirut to assess the situation after the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. Qaani has not appeared in public since October 4 and was feared to have been killed along with Hashem Saffiedine, his successor.
Surprising rumours are coming from Tehran about a his arrest, confirmed by intelligence sources, which links him to a alleged involvement in leaking classified information to the Israelis. The arrest of Qaani, a key figure in Iran's economy and security, would be a major blow to the regime in Tehran, further intensifying concerns about infiltration and attacks. The head of the Guardians reportedly suffered a heart attack during interrogation.
The victims in Lebanon do not stop
In the meantime, in Lebanon the situation worsens further. Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours have left at least 60 dead and 168 wounded, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health and the Al Jazeera network. The overall death toll in Lebanon during the last year of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has reached dramatic figures, with over 2.200 dead and more than 10.000 wounded. Military operations are mainly concentrated in the south of the country, but Beirut and the Bekaa Valley have also been hit by Israeli bombings.
The situation remains tense even after the Israeli attacks on UN bases and Europe's condemnation. The leaders of Italy, France and Spain have cI strongly condemned the attacks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against UN troops in Lebanon. During the Med9 summit in Cyprus, Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez signed a joint statement denouncing these actions as a serious violation of UN resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law, calling for an immediate end to the attacks. Another IDF peacekeeper was injured today in LebanonUNIFIL.
The Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib mikati, has intensified its diplomatic pressure to achieve a ceasefire. Mikati has had talks with Amos Hochstein, representative of the White House, and with the president of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, in an attempt to halt hostilities and negotiate a truce. Mikati called for the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which provides for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Why are not traditional US media reporting these cyberattacks on Iran?
Why aren't the raditional US Media mentioning these cyber attacks on Iran?