Recent incidents highlight the scale of the digital confrontation. Iranian hackers have been linked to phishing campaigns targeting Israeli diplomats and government officials, while also attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft software to infiltrate Israeli networks.
In parallel, Israel and groups aligned with its interests have launched disruptive cyberattacks on Iran, underscoring how digital warfare has become a central element in the shadow war between the two nations.
During the June conflict, Iran’s Ministry of Communications reported facing what it described as its most extensive cyberattack campaign to date, with more than 20,000 incidents in just 12 days.
One attack temporarily disabled Iran’s air defense systems as Israeli Air Force jets launched strikes on Tehran on June 13. Israeli cybersecurity experts later described the air defense breach as a tactical move designed to give Israel an initial advantage, while stressing that intelligence gathering on Iranian military figures and nuclear scientists was the most significant outcome.
On the other side, an Israeli-aligned hacking group known as Gonjeshke Darande claimed responsibility for siphoning around $90 million from the Iranian cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex, transferring the funds into a wallet that could not be accessed. Nobitex rejected accusations that it operated as a regime tool, though the same group also targeted two major Iranian banks, including state-owned Bank Sepah.
These attacks reportedly crippled banking systems by disabling not only primary data but also backup and disaster recovery servers, according to Dotin, the software provider for the affected banks.
Meanwhile, Iranian-backed hackers conducted cyber operations against 50 Israeli companies, including firms in logistics, human resources, and defense-related sectors.
Leaked resumes of thousands of Israeli citizens linked to defense work were published online. Attackers also attempted to manipulate Israelis by sending fake messages that appeared to come from the Home Front Command, advising civilians to avoid bomb shelters during missile strikes. Other attempts focused on breaching security camera systems to track the locations of incoming rockets.
Despite these efforts, Israeli cybersecurity officials argue that the cyberattacks on their country have caused minimal disruption. Iran, however, appears to have suffered more significant setbacks. Senior Iranian officials acknowledged weaknesses in their systems, citing the country’s centralized data structures as a vulnerability exploited by Israeli forces.
The scale of the damage prompted calls within Iran for urgent measures to strengthen its cyber defense capabilities.
Experts believe the cyber war will continue to escalate, as it allows both sides to strike at one another without triggering immediate international backlash. Analysts note that while conventional attacks risk provoking strong responses from global powers, operations in cyberspace often proceed unchecked.
For Israel and Iran, the digital battlefield has become a critical front in their decades-long struggle, one that persists even when guns fall silent.
