Israelis’ phones receive text messages from Iran!

The past few hours have witnessed a wave of controversy in Israel following the circulation of text messages on the phones of several users, containing direct calls for intelligence cooperation with Iran.

This move has raised security concerns and widespread questions about who is behind these messages.

According to Israelis who posted on social media, the messages contained striking phrases, including: “The Islamic Republic of Iran invites you to cooperate in the field of intelligence… Build your future now”.

These messages sparked a wave of anxiety within Israeli circles, amid speculation that they may be part of a cyber campaign aimed at recruitment or sowing chaos and panic within Israeli society.

Following the spread of the messages, the Israeli National Cyber ​​Directorate reiterated its warning about misleading and malicious emails targeting mobile phones, emphasizing that some of them aim to steal personal data or trick users into clicking on suspicious links.

These developments come amidst escalating security and cyber tensions between Iran and Israel, with both sides exchanging accusations of carrying out cyberattacks and breaches targeting each other’s infrastructure and sensitive systems.

Over the past few months, Israeli reports have highlighted a growing trend of attempts to lure Israelis through messaging apps and text messages to carry out intelligence-related tasks in exchange for money.

Israeli security services have previously announced the arrest of individuals, including military personnel, on charges of communicating with entities linked to Iran.

In a related development, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper revealed a major cyberattack by Iranian intelligence on the systems of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), describing it as one of the most serious cyberattacks Israel has faced in recent years.

According to the investigation, Iranian-linked entities gained access to tens of thousands of sensitive messages and documents belonging to former security and military officials.

The Iranian affiliated Hanzala group subsequently published thousands of files containing passwords and technical information related to surveillance systems and networks within the institute.

The investigation indicated that the breach affected prominent figures, including former head of Israeli military intelligence Amos Yadlin, the current head of the institute Tamir Hayman, and several researchers specializing in Iranian affairs.

Haaretz argued that this operation was not limited to gathering technical information, but also gave Iran an opportunity to understand the mechanisms of security thinking and decision-making within Israeli military and intelligence institutions.