Middleeasteye Iran-Linked Hackers Breach California Water Systems in Retaliation for US Strikes
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- •Handala claims to have breached California water systems as retaliation for US airstrikes.
- •The group released 5 GB of data as proof but refrained from disrupting water supplies.
- •The incident highlights escalating cyber operations linked to the US-Iran conflict.
The Iran-aligned hacking group Handala has claimed responsibility for breaching California water utility systems, framing the operation as retaliation for recent US airstrikes that damaged water infrastructure in Iran. The group released screenshots purportedly showing access to internal operational dashboards and customer records from various California water facilities. Although they claimed to have the capability to disrupt water supplies, Handala stated they chose not to do so, describing the act as a warning to the US government. The breach was announced just two days after US strikes on June 10, which left over 20,000 residents in Sirik, Iran, without access to safe drinking water. Handala's statement emphasized that future attacks against Iranian interests would be met with reciprocal measures targeting US infrastructure. The group has previously been linked to other cyber operations, including a significant attack on medical device maker Stryker earlier in 2026. This incident marks a notable escalation in cyber operations amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
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