[Jpost] In the Middle East there has been an increased role of cyber war and cyber security, much as the region is also at the forefront of experiments with new weapon systems, from drones to ballistic missiles. In the last several years Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet
militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word
Iranis a cognate form of
Aryan.The abbreviation
IRGCis the same idea as
Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term
Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either
Duceor
Führeror maybe both. They hate
has sought to boost its cyber warfare capabilities with the foundation of IRGC-supported "cyber warfare" units. Last year Iran’s "cyber army" was portrayed as being under attack from the US and other adversaries. The New Arab noted in February that Iran’s cyber army was on the lookout for opportunities. In response to the US killing of IRGC General Qasem Soleimani in early January the cyber warriors from Tehran went hunting. They apparently struck a US government agency website on January 5.
Iran’s cyber warfare abilities date back to around 2010 when Iran had to respond to the Stuxnet virus. The Center for Strategic and International Studies noted that Iran was trying to increase its cyber power and use covert activities to guide its strategy of operations using cyber as a tool. Iran’s Basij militia, linked to the IRGC overall cyber command structure, sought to create an army of cyber volunteers. Under IRGC head Hossein Salami Iran has presented its conflict with the US and US allies, such as Israel, as part of a total war struggle that involves not only drones, missiles, militias, but also cyber. Iran’s cyber warfare abilities is seen as a threat by the US, Gulf allies and across the region.