The digital frontlines are expanding as cyber operations reshape the nature of global warfare. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has become a case study in how cyberattacks, hacktivism, and psychological operations are now central to modern geopolitical strategy.
Bank Hacks and Crypto Heists Signal Cyber Escalation
Israeli hackers recently crippled Iran’s state-owned Bank Sepah, deleting data and disrupting financial services. Soon after, Iran-based crypto exchange Nobitex lost nearly $82 million(683 Crore INR) in digital assets in a separate cyberattack claimed by the hacktivist group Gonjeske Darande (“Predatory Sparrow”).
In retaliation, over 35 Iran-aligned cyber groups launched a wave of attacks on Israeli infrastructure, including DDoS assaults and website defacements.
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“This isn’t just about digital sabotage,” says Adrien Ogée, COO at the CyberPeace Institute. “We’re seeing a blurred line between state-sanctioned cyberattacks and civilian-led operations often with real-world consequences.”
Cyber War Is Now Multivector and Civilian-Driven
According to Radware’s threat intelligence chief Pascal Geenens, cyber warfare has evolved into a multivector strategy:
- Disinformation erodes public trust
- Disruptive attacks hinder response efforts
- Destructive payloads cause long-term damage
Each tactic complements the others, creating a force-multiplier effect. The current Israel-Iran conflict mirrors earlier wars: Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine featured malware, misinformation, and digital militias like Ukraine’s IT Army — a global collective of cyber volunteers.
AI, Deepfakes, and Digital Fog of War
Artificial intelligence now powers a new layer of cyberwarfare. Following recent Israeli strikes on Iran, deepfake images and AI-generated narratives spread across social media, confusing the public before facts emerged.
“These campaigns don’t just trick adversaries they destabilize public trust and blur humanitarian neutrality,” Ogée warns. “The psychological impact is often more devastating than physical damage.”
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Hacktivists Are the New Foot Soldiers of Conflict
Hacktivism plays a growing role in geopolitics. From the Russia-Ukraine war to the India-Pakistan cyber spats, surges in hacktivist activity have become reliable indicators of real-world tensions.
While some attacks are symbolic, others cause real damage. During the Ukraine war, Kyiv’s Digital Transformation Ministry mobilized global cyber volunteers via social media. In parallel, Russian group Killnet organized cyber influence campaigns to undermine international support for Ukraine.
“These aren’t just kids in basements anymore,” says Geenens. “They’re running coordinated, impactful operations that serve strategic state goals.”
Cyber Rules of War Still Don’t Exist
With both civilians and state-backed actors launching attacks, the rules of engagement remain undefined. Ogée argues that global treaties must extend humanitarian principles like proportionality and distinction to the digital realm.
“Whether it’s ransomware or information warfare, civilians bear the brunt,” he says. “Humanitarian services and nonprofits get caught in the crossfire, and we lack mechanisms to prevent or prosecute that.”
About the author – Ayush Chaurasia is a postgraduate student passionate about cybersecurity, threat hunting, and global affairs. He explores the intersection of technology, psychology, national security, and geopolitics through insightful writing
