Khaberni - In addition to the escalating air strikes between America and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, multiple reports have surfaced indicating that cyber warfare — from hacking traffic camera networks to hacking television broadcasts — had a significant presence on the field, not only as a tool for gathering information but as part of the overall military effort to support strikes and psychological operations.
Targeting surveillance networks
Widespread reports conveyed by media sources state that Israeli intelligence services have penetrated the traffic camera network in Tehran over the years, enabling them to track the movements of top Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
According to the "Financial Times", these cameras were sending encrypted data to servers in Israel, which helped build an accurate picture of the day-to-day lives of Iranian regime officials and their security apparatus leaders, contributing to locating Khamenei at the time of the air attack that led to his death.
The role of cyberattacks in disabling defenses
The commander of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that joint operations in space and cyber operations contributed to disrupting Iranian communication networks and sensing devices before the airstrikes began, leaving the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate, or respond effectively.
This type of operation is not limited to information gathering but also aims to confuse defense and communication systems of the adversary and pave the way for traditional airstrikes.
Psychological effects through media
On another level, internet users shared reports indicating that Iranian television networks broadcast unusual messages encouraging citizens to revolt against the regime, a method commonly used in what is known as psyops (psychological operations).
Social media posts also referred to similar instances, including hacks of television broadcasts within Iran to display speeches by Western leaders urging the people to revolt, a practice associated frequently with attempts to influence public mood and not just information gathering.
Who is behind the attacks?
Although details are still unfolding, multiple reports link the cyber operations to US and Israeli forces, either through specialized cybersecurity units or through broader intelligence coordination.
Conversely, the capabilities of Iranian attackers were clearly less, and some experts attribute this to technical restrictions and internet censorship within Iran that limited the effectiveness of government hackers in launching counterattacks.
Were cyber operations decisive?
It is important to emphasize that despite the role played by digital operations, the current war relies almost exclusively on traditional military power — bombs, missiles, and air weapons — and not merely on breaching digital systems.
There might be a tendency among some officials to overestimate the impact of cyberattacks as part of efforts to influence the enemy or to demonstrate technical prowess, but reality indicates that they were a complementary part and not the decisive factor in battle outcomes so far.
