This article presents the hacker group Handala as part of Iran’s digital theater of terror and highlights its central role in the realm of psychological and cognitive warfare. The group’s activities combine cyberattacks, data leaks, and threats with carefully orchestrated media campaigns designed to shape
Executive Summary This article analyzes the current war between Israel, and Iran and Hezbollah through the prism of cognitive warfare: the campaign over public consciousness, perception of reality, and trust in institutions, and focuses on how this arena is changing in the era after the
Col. (Ret.) Guy Itzhaki, former Chief of the Consciousness Department, IDF, and ICT Fellow sheds light on Cognitive Warfare in the “Swords of Iron” Era and how Israel must fight this battlefield:Alongside kinetic operations, adversaries led by Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah conducted a sophisticated cognitive
The joint U.S. and Israeli operation “Epic Fury / Roaring Lion” (February 2026) signifies a definitive shift in modern warfare, moving Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber capabilities from elective support to core structural components of campaign design. This evolution suggests a new paradigm where computational
Abstract This report analyzes Iran’s information warfare during the December 2025 – January 2026 protests and its parallel influence efforts targeting Israel and the West. Facing widespread economic unrest, the regime used physical repression and a coordinated narrative campaign, labeling demonstrators as agents of the
The Cyber-Terrorism Desk at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), Reichman University, focuses on the intersection of terrorism and cyberspace. It provides analysis and insights into how terrorist organizations exploit digital platforms for influence, propaganda, recruitment, psychological warfare, fundraising, and cyber operations. The desk monitors
The article examines the recent media jihad campaign “Supporting Ribat and Jihad” conducted by the Islamic State and its online supporters, focusing on the concept of media jihad and its significance in response to deplatforming efforts. The article also explores the Islamic State’s transition from
The following article describes Afaq’s role in Islamic State’s cyber defense arena over the years; the recent cyber-attack on the foundation; and the implications of the attack. Download
