Cyberattacks linked to Iran against Israel have risen sharply in 2026, according to Yossi Karadi, Director General of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate. Speaking to a German newspaper, Karadi said Israel recorded around 4,800 hostile cyber incidents in June 2026, compared with approximately 1,600 during the same month in 2025.
Karadi described Iran’s cyber operations as a “multi-layered system,” with the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leading dedicated cyber warfare units. He said these efforts are supported by civilians and activists who either act out of conviction or receive payment to carry out cyberattacks.
Beyond hacking attempts, Karadi identified Iran’s digital propaganda campaigns, including widely shared Lego-style AI animation videos, as part of the broader cyber strategy. He said these campaigns work alongside direct cyber operations to influence public opinion and support wider information warfare.
“We can handle them, but we have to take them seriously,” Karadi said. “Unlike in the kinetic realm, there’s no ceasefire in cyberspace.”
According to Karadi, the attacks targeted critical infrastructure, major organizations, small and medium-sized businesses and the public. Law firms and accounting firms were among the smaller organizations affected. While Israel has so far prevented successful attacks on critical infrastructure, he noted that some companies with weaker security had their computer systems completely wiped.
Karadi also revealed that the National Cyber Directorate is developing a multi-year strategy focused on cloud security, cyber and AI, and quantum computing, with plans to have these initiatives operational by 2030.
Earlier in January, Karadi warned that Israel must strengthen its readiness for an approaching “cyber war.” He also disclosed that the Cyber Directorate handled more than 26,000 cyberattacks during 2025, marking a 55% increase over 2024. According to Microsoft’s latest data, Israel accounted for 3.5% of all global cyberattacks over the past year, making it the 3rd-most-attacked country worldwide. Iran has consistently denied carrying out cyber campaigns against other countries while reporting cyberattacks targeting its own systems.
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