Cyber Warfare Escalates as Iran Conflict Enters Tenth Day
- Lavender Kurwara
- 18 Mar, 2026
Cyber Warfare Escalates as Iran Conflict Enters Tenth Day
The ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has entered its tenth day, with cyber warfare emerging as a major battlefield alongside conventional military strikes. Experts warn that the conflict is demonstrating how modern wars are increasingly fought not only with missiles and drones, but also with algorithms, spyware, and cyberattacks.
Internet Blackout in Iran
Iran is currently experiencing a near-total internet blackout. Data from the monitoring group NetBlocks indicates that national connectivity has dropped to about one percent of normal levels. Analysts believe the shutdown is partly aimed at limiting the impact of cyberattacks and controlling the flow of information during the conflict.
Despite the blackout, Iran has been the target of several hostile cyber activities. One of the reported incidents involved the hacking of the BadeSaba religious calendar application, widely used in the country.
At the same time, cybersecurity firm Check Point Software has reported that Iranian-linked cyber actors have intensified their own attacks. Since the conflict began, attempts to exploit systems in countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Cyprus have significantly increased.
Cyber Operations Support Military Strikes
Reports suggest that the initial wave of attacks by the United States and Israel included coordinated cyber operations designed to disrupt Iran’s communication systems. Mobile towers near important government buildings in Tehran were reportedly targeted to prevent early warnings of incoming strikes.
Intelligence gathering also played a crucial role. According to reports, many traffic cameras across Tehran had been compromised for years, allowing foreign intelligence services to monitor movements in the city. The footage was allegedly transmitted to overseas servers where advanced algorithms were used to track high-priority individuals.
Strike on Iranian Cyber Headquarters
Israel’s military announced that an early March airstrike targeted a large military compound in eastern Tehran believed to house the cyber warfare headquarters of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
However, cybersecurity experts say destroying a single facility is unlikely to eliminate Iran’s cyber capabilities. Many of the country’s cyber operations are believed to operate through dispersed networks, proxy groups, and previously installed malware that can function even when domestic infrastructure is damaged.
Hacktivist Groups Join the Conflict
Researchers have also observed a surge in activity from pro-Iranian hacktivist groups. These groups claim responsibility for cyberattacks against Israeli and regional targets, including energy companies and government agencies.
Among the most prominent actors is a group known as Handala Hack, believed by analysts to have links to Iran’s intelligence structures. Other groups, such as Cyber Islamic Resistance, Dark Storm Team, and the Fatimiyoun Cyber Team, have reportedly carried out distributed denial-of-service attacks, website defacements, and data-wiping campaigns.
Some of these groups have also claimed to have accessed sensitive industrial control systems and drone defense technologies, though the extent of these breaches remains unclear.
Spyware and Artificial Intelligence
Advanced surveillance technology has also played a significant role in the conflict. Intelligence agencies are believed to have relied on spyware and hacked devices to monitor key figures and collect vast amounts of data.
Software such as Pegasus, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, is capable of infiltrating smartphones without alerting the user, allowing attackers to access messages, location data, and microphones.
According to analysts, massive datasets gathered from surveillance systems were processed using advanced algorithms, large language models, and powerful supercomputers to identify patterns and predict the movements of high-value targets.
Cyber Attacks on Infrastructure
Cyber warfare has previously targeted Iran’s critical infrastructure. In 2010, a sophisticated computer worm known as Stuxnet damaged centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear facility, demonstrating how malware could cause real-world destruction.
Experts warn that similar tactics could now be used against Iran’s oil infrastructure. Facilities such as the Kharg Island Oil Terminal and the South Pars Gas Field rely heavily on operational technology systems that control physical machinery. A successful cyberattack on these systems could disrupt Iran’s economy.
A New Era of Warfare
Military analysts say the conflict highlights a broader shift in warfare. Modern battlefields now combine drones, artificial intelligence, cyberattacks, and precision-guided weapons with traditional military operations.
Technology companies are increasingly involved in defense development, creating advanced systems for surveillance, targeting, and autonomous operations. This growing collaboration between the military, defense manufacturers, and technology firms is sometimes described as a new “mili-tech industrial complex.”
Experts believe the digital dimension of the conflict will likely continue long after the immediate fighting subsides, as cyber operations remain active across networks and borders.
As the war unfolds, governments and organizations worldwide are being urged to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses, as the ripple effects of the conflict could reach far beyond the Middle East.
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