An Iran-linked hacker group known as Handala has claimed it breached FBI surveillance drones and gained access to sensitive aerial surveillance data used for counterterrorism operations in the United States. The group also issued a chilling warning linked to the ongoing FIFA World Cup, raising fresh concerns over cyber threats and tournament security.

According to monitoring group SITE Intelligence, Handala claims it had access for months to FBI drone feeds featuring facial recognition and license plate screening capabilities. The hackers warned that World Cup teams and infrastructure could be targeted.

Iran-Linked Group Claims FBI Drone Hack: Handala Claims Drone Surveillance Breach

<p>Palestine-linked hacker group Handala has claimed hacking of the phone of the ex-IDF chief Herzi Halevi. They have claimed to breach 19,000 sensitive files, including visuals of secret meetings, strategic maps, and personal footage from Halevi's residence. The group claimed that his record is stained with “genocide.” This follows a threat shared by Handala on Wednesday, where they claimed that they were about to reveal information about Halevi.</p><p>“All your top-secret facilities, crisis rooms, maps, and even the tiniest details of your command centres have long been like an open book to us,” claimed the group.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-strait-of-hormuz-toll-fee-legal-concerns-1775734790838"><strong>Only 12 ships allowed daily: Iran’s restrictive gatekeeping in Hormuz</strong></a></p><h2>What did the leak contain?</h2><p>The published materials include photos of Halevi in high-level security meetings, visiting air force bases, and working out, alongside personal photos of his family. There were also pictures of the ID cards of him and his wife along with. The leaked footage also featured meetings between him and his Jordanian counterparts, Maj Gen Yousef Huneiti, in Jordan. He presented him with a historical dagger of a soldier who was killed in the Six-Day War in 1967. Another photo reportedly showed a meeting in Qatar with former US Central Command chief Michael Kurilla.</p><h2>What is the Handala group?</h2><p>Handala hacking group is an Iran and Palestine-linked hacker group identified by the US intelligence as a front of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The group presents itself as an independent, pro-Palestinian hacktivist group, while the FBI classified it as a faketivist. The group takes its name from a 10-year-old Palestinian cartoon character, Handala, who characterises Palestinian resistance. The group is known for its psychological warfare and has previously targeted the former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a confidant of Netanyahu, Tzachi Braverman, and FBI Director Kash Patel.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Handala: The Shadow in General Halevi’s Command Center<br><br>For years, Handala has silently and relentlessly been right at the heart of General Herzi Halevi’s system, the former Chief of Staff of the Zionist Army, watching, recording, and collecting everything that matters.<br><br>During… <a href="https://t.co/mnC12r1doB">https://t.co/mnC12r1doB</a> <a href="https://t.co/7XdFUkr6G8">pic.twitter.com/7XdFUkr6G8</a></p>&mdash; H4ND4L4 (@HPRRed) <a href="https://twitter.com/HPRRed/status/2042130706768281971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Palestine-linked hacker group Handala claims to have breached 19,000 files from ex-IDF chief Herzi Halevi, including military maps, secret meetings, and personal footage.

Palestine-linked hacker group Handala has claimed hacking of the phone of the ex-IDF chief Herzi Halevi. They have claimed to breach 19,000 sensitive files, including visuals of secret meetings, strategic maps, and personal footage from Halevi's residence. The group claimed that his record is stained with “genocide.” This follows a threat shared by Handala on Wednesday, where they claimed that they were about to reveal information about Halevi. “All your top-secret facilities, crisis rooms, maps, and even the tiniest details of your command centres have long been like an open book to us,” claimed the group. Also read: Only 12 ships allowed daily: Iran’s restrictive gatekeeping in Hormuz What did the leak contain? The published materials include photos of Halevi in high-level security meetings, visiting air force bases, and working out, alongside personal photos of his family. There were also pictures of the ID cards of him and his wife along with. The leaked footage also featured meetings between him and his Jordanian counterparts, Maj Gen Yousef Huneiti, in Jordan. He presented him with a historical dagger of a soldier who was killed in the Six-Day War in 1967. Another photo reportedly showed a meeting in Qatar with former US Central Command chief Michael Kurilla. What is the Handala group? Handala hacking group is an Iran and Palestine-linked hacker group identified by the US intelligence as a front of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The group presents itself as an independent, pro-Palestinian hacktivist group, while the FBI classified it as a faketivist. The group takes its name from a 10-year-old Palestinian cartoon character, Handala, who characterises Palestinian resistance. The group is known for its psychological warfare and has previously targeted the former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a confidant of Netanyahu, Tzachi Braverman, and FBI Director Kash Patel.

<p>Palestine-linked hacker group Handala claims to have breached 19,000 files from ex-IDF chief Herzi Halevi, including military maps, secret meetings, and personal footage.</p>

Palestine linked hacker group Handala claims breach of ex-IDF chief's phone

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