Cyberattacks briefly target websites of Foreign Affairs and Information Ministries

The websites of Lebanon's Foreign Affairs and Information Ministries were briefly hacked Wednesday night. At around 10 p.m. Wednesday, the Information Ministry's website failed to open and displayed an error page, while the Foreign Affairs Ministry's website displayed an alert message about a potential data breach before opening. By Thursday morning, both sites appeared to be functioning normally.

The hack was claimed by a group called "the Fatimids," in reference to the Shiite Fatimid Caliphate. According to local media, this appears to be a military formation made up mostly of Afghan fighters, which has fought alongside Syrian regime forces with Iranian support.

The attack on the Foreign Affairs and Information Ministry websites follows statements and positions taken by the respective ministers that go against Hezbollah and its activities. Information Minister Paul Morcos on Monday instructed officials at Télé-Liban and the state-run National News Agency (NNA) to stop using the term “resistance” to refer to Hezbollah. This move is part of the implementation of the government’s March 2 decision, declaring Hezbollah's "military and security activities" illegal. Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji also recently summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires in Lebanon, Toufic Samadi.

The same group of hackers claimed responsibility earlier this week for hacking the MTV channel's website after it broadcast the alleged locations of Hezbollah detention centers in Beirut's southern suburbs, locations which were subsequently targeted by Israeli strikes.

Des cyber-attaques visent brièvement les sites des ministères des Affaires étrangères et de l'Information