Iran-linked hacker group Handala published a series of posts on social media, claiming to have uncovered the identity of an agent coordinating Mossad operations in Iran, and threatened to release further sensitive information on Thursday.
Handala, previously responsible for leaking information gained by hacking the personal phones of senior Israeli officials, earlier threatened to leak potentially Mossad-related information, stating that at 6:30 p.m. Israeli time on Thursday, “the Mossad will deal with a shock it never expected."
The hackers then released multiple videos, which they alleged were taken outside the home of a Mossad agent, whom they accused of playing "a major role in organizing and directing networks behind the unrest inside Iran."
Handela also accused the agent of establishing "coordination and cohesion among the main ringleaders" of ongoing anti-Iranian regime protests, as well as providing "financial support necessary to sustain and expand anti-Iranian activities."
Handala labeled the posts "Episode One" and threatened to release multiple installments throughout Thursday night.
Handala's previous targeting of Israeli officials
Following the hacks of phones belonging to former prime minister Naftali Bennett and ex-prime minister’s chief of staff Tzachi Braverman, Handala has continued to target Israeli public figures.
On Saturday, the group claimed it had hacked the phone of former interior minister Ayelet Shaked, publishing what it described as private photos and videos from her device.
Later that day, the group alleged it had also breached Shaked’s WhatsApp account and accessed her entire message history. “This will be a campaign that will last for months,” the group warned.
In another post, the hackers said, “While the Handala hacker group holds the ability to disrupt every aspect of life in your society in a very short time, our true intention is not destruction, but to pour light on the darkness and deception that the rulers of this cult perpetuate.”
They further claimed “leaders like Ayelet Shaked demonstrate a level of oppression and darkness that is seen rarely, if at all, in human history, even in the Middle Ages.”
The post claimed they had “50 videos of Shaked on the phone.”
A message accompanying the leaked materials read: “The secrets of the queen: the mystery behind Ayelet Shaked will be revealed. Once again, the cyber world will witness our true power! This time, our target was none other than Ayelet Shaked, the controversial figure and one who is considered the security champion of the Zionist regime.”
The group also published what it claimed were personal messages belonging to Shaked, along with a contact list that reportedly included phone numbers of mayors and other senior Israeli figures.