Khaberni - A hacking group linked to Iran announced that it had breached personal accounts belonging to US FBI Director Kash Patel and obtained what it described as "personal and confidential information" including emails, documents, and private files, according to the US website "Axios".
This claim comes at a sensitive time, as the attack could represent one of the major escalations in cyber tensions amid tensions between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, which may put the current director of the office in an embarrassing position.
For its part, the FBI has acknowledged that it is aware of attempts by "malicious entities" to target Patel’s personal email, mentioning that precautionary measures have been taken to mitigate the risks. It added that the circulated data is "inherently old and does not include government information".
The group, which calls itself «Handala Hack Team», posted on its website images of Patel, along with excerpts from his resume, and a batch of emails believed to be stolen from his personal Gmail account.
According to media reviews, the leaked messages date back to the early last decade up until 2019, and do not contain any information related to current office operations.
Some messages reveal details of his trips, including airline and hotel reservations, along with family correspondence, discussions related to his tax declarations, as well as inquiries about renting apartments in Washington DC more than a decade ago.
The group explained that the attack came in response to an operation carried out by the FBI last week, which targeted the seizure of electronic domains belonging to it, following its claim of responsibility for a cyber attack on the American medical technology company «Stryker».
The group wrote in a statement: "After the FBI demonstrated its power by seizing our sites and announcing a reward of $10 million for information about our members, we decided to respond in an unforgettable way".
Despite the severity of the claims, experts suggest that such groups often exaggerate the extent of their breaches and the data they obtain.
CNN reported in late 2024 that Iranian hackers were able to access some of Patel’s communications.
According to experts, Iran relies on intermediary groups like "Handala" to conduct its cyber operations, making it difficult to directly accuse the Iranian government officially.
Specialists warn that Tehran may escalate its cyber attacks, whether by targeting vital infrastructure or through misinformation campaigns aimed at spreading chaos and confusion amid ongoing conflict.
