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An Iran-linked hacker network has launched an explicit campaign targeting Israeli air defense developers, placing cash bounties on personal information tied to engineers and technicians involved in Israel’s missile defense systems.
The group, known as Handala, offered payments of up to $30,000 for information on more than a dozen Israelis it claims work on the Patriot, Arrow, and David’s Sling air defense systems. The operation goes far beyond cyber intrusion, combining coordinated doxing with direct threats that signal violent intent.
Personal Details Published, Families Explicitly Threatened
Handala published detailed profiles of its targets online, including photographs, names, professional backgrounds, email addresses, phone numbers, and alleged locations. While not all of the information has been independently verified, it has circulated widely across Arab media outlets and Telegram channels, including accounts affiliated with Hamas.
Several profiles included personalized threats. In one case, a target was warned that his children were no longer safe. Other messages stated that individuals had been “marked” and that their communications were under surveillance.
One post addressed Israeli engineers directly, declaring that anonymity no longer existed and that they were being watched. The language was deliberately intimidating and framed as a warning of imminent consequences.
‘RedWanted’ Campaign Signals Escalation
The doxing effort is part of a broader operation branded by the group as “RedWanted.” Since October 18, Handala has released near-weekly lists of Israelis, accusing them of involvement in Israeli defense or intelligence programs.
Some lists labeled individuals as “corpses,” including alleged members of IDF Unit 8200. Others described targets as “wanted,” offering cash rewards for information on their whereabouts or activities. In multiple posts, the group warned that those named could no longer move freely, either at work or at home.
A central database linked to the campaign reportedly contains profiles on nearly 200 Israelis, each accompanied by threatening language. A banner displayed prominently on the site warned that Israel should expect “harsh punishment.”
In an accompanying statement, the hackers declared that their targets’ actions would not be forgotten and that “the hunt has begun.”
Psychological Warfare and Threat Normalization
Handala also released video content portraying some targets as already “killed,” alongside imagery resembling bomb-making materials. The material appears designed to normalize the idea of physical harm while amplifying fear beyond the digital sphere.
Israeli media outlets have contacted individuals named in the latest postings and have reached out to Israel’s Defense Ministry for comment.
Ties to Iranian Intelligence
Security analysts have long linked Handala to Iran’s intelligence services. The Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security has assessed that the group has been used by Iran since late 2023. Its hostile cyber activity against Israeli targets dates back roughly two years.
The group has also targeted journalists outside Israel in similar “hack and leak” operations, releasing sensitive personal materials in an effort to intimidate and silence critics of the Iranian regime.
A Campaign Designed to Intimidate
The bounties, threats, and graphic messaging reflect a coordinated campaign of intimidation aimed at Israeli civilians, engineers, and researchers, with explicit references to their families and physical safety.
By publicly offering cash rewards for personal information and framing its actions as a “hunt,” Handala signals an intent to move beyond digital harassment toward real-world harm — mirroring Iran’s broader strategy of using proxies to threaten Israelis and Jews far beyond any battlefield.
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