Iran-Linked Hackers Leak 19,000 Files From Ex-IDF Chief Herzi Halevi's Phone
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Iran-Linked Hackers Leak 19,000 Files From Ex-IDF Chief Herzi Halevi's Phone

09 April, 2026.Technology and Science.12 sources

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Handala Hacks Halevi

Handala claimed it had infiltrated the personal phone of former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

For years, Handala has silently and relentlessly been right at the heart of General Herzi Halevi's system

HaaretzHaaretz

The group extracted roughly 19,000 files including photos, videos, and recordings from secret meetings.

Image from Caspian Post
Caspian PostCaspian Post

They published images showing Halevi in military settings, private family moments, and undisclosed diplomatic visits.

One visit was a secret trip to Jordan where Halevi met with Jordanian Army chief Yousef al-Hunaiti.

The leak included identification documents of Halevi and his wife.

Israeli sources confirmed the authenticity of the photos to CNN.

Diplomatic Secrets Exposed

The leaked materials revealed diplomatic interactions that had been kept under wraps.

Halevi presented Hunaiti with a dagger belonging to a Jordanian soldier killed in the Six-Day War.

Image from CTech
CTechCTech

The leak came just hours after President Trump announced a ceasefire.

The group threatened to release additional content in the future.

Security Vulnerabilities

The breach reportedly involved personal devices and cloud services rather than classified military networks.

The technology underpinning these attacks does not necessarily require a direct breach of classified military networks

YnetnewsYnetnews

Such attacks often rely on social engineering and spear-phishing.

Gil Messing said the cyber war does not stop with a ceasefire.

The leak follows a series of Handala operations targeting top Israeli officials.

Iranian Retaliation

The Handala hack came amid escalating Iranian cyber operations targeting Israeli officials.

The group has been identified by US intelligence as a front of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Image from i24NEWS
i24NEWSi24NEWS

The leak included military, diplomatic, and personal materials.

The Times of Israel noted the leak should shake the sense of security of top officials.