Cyberattack Has Air Raid Sirens Blaring across Jerusalem

June 20, 2022

by: Ilse Strauss

Monday, 20 June 2022 | Air raid sirens screamed through several neighborhoods in Jerusalem and Eilat last night for nearly an hour. Yet this time, the terrifying wail did not warn of an incoming rocket. A cyberattack allegedly sent the sirens screeching. And according to unconfirmed reports in Hebrew media, the Iranians are behind the attack.

Israel’s Home Front Command released an initial report last night, blaming a cyberattack for the systems malfunction.

The Israel National Cyber Directorate confirmed the attack this morning, Army Radio reported, adding that it targeted the municipal siren systems as opposed to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command alert systems.

Former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff and current Member of Knesset (Parliament) Yair Golan told Army Radio this morning that Iran may have more cyber mischief up its sleeve and that Israel should prepare for such an eventuality.

“The Home Front Command’s alarm system was not breached, the municipal siren system was, but it is very worrying and disturbing,” he said. “If there is a breach point there, it should be closed immediately.”

Last night’s cyberattack comes amid an uptick in the shadowy cat-and-mouse game between Israel and Iran. Over the past few weeks, reports have surfaced of Iranian scientists and military officials dying under suspicious circumstances. In a number of instances, Tehran alluded to Israeli involvement in these deaths.

Israeli media was also abuzz with reports of Jerusalem working in close cooperation to thwart Iranian attempts to abduct Israeli citizens on vacation in Istanbul.

As the sirens wailed with no incoming rockets last night, the question arises whether Iran orchestrated the malfunction as payback for the Jewish state supposedly targeting the linchpins in Tehran’s race to the nuclear bomb. But with the war between Israel and Iran waged largely in the shadows, the best we can do is speculate.

Posted on June 20, 2022

Source: (Bridges for Peace, June 20, 2022)

Photo Credit: Ranbar/commons.wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia