Iran Hacks Email Accounts of Lebanon’s Aoun, Hariri

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri hold talks at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. (NNA)
Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri hold talks at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. (NNA)
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Iran Hacks Email Accounts of Lebanon’s Aoun, Hariri

Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri hold talks at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. (NNA)
Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Speaker Nabih Berri hold talks at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. (NNA)

Iranian hackers were capable to attack the private bank accounts of leading Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

According to a report published by the French newspaper Le Figaro on Monday, the hacking shows that Iran has embarked on a large-scale cyber piracy operation.

The attacks also targeted the Lebanese ministries of justice and foreign affairs, in addition to the army, the Central bank and other Lebanese banks.

Quoting intelligence sources, the newspaper said that the electronic attack was conducted by Iranians and was funded by the government.

The sources said that they believe the hacking is similar to what Russian parties had done in the United States in 2016 during the presidential campaign of Donald Trump.

The newspaper wrote that Tehran was following Russia’s model by resorting to electronic operations to “expand its control over the Middle East region.”

Le Figaro wrote an in-depth report on the issue Monday, entitled “Lebanon, Syria, Iraq: How Iran Expands its Control?”

The report includes a number of investigative articles, the first under the title of “Shi’ite Crescent” and the second entitled, “The Four Faces of ‘Hezbollah’.”

It also includes an interview with Lebanese-French researcher called Aurelie Daher about the favors “Hezbollah” offered to the Syrian regime.

However, what is interesting in Le Figaro file is an investigation focused on the electronic operations conducted by Iran against high-ranking Lebanese officials.

It said that the Iranian hackers of the operation "Oilrig" have been hacking Lebanese servers for more than six months.

According to the daily,, the hackers had access to Aoun and Hariri’s email accounts and had already gathered several documents and passwords to be used prior to the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for May 2018 in Lebanon.

Le Figaro said the hackers had “the intention to try to influence the polls in favor of the Shi’ites and ‘Hezbollah’ in Lebanon.”



Sources Reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat Details of Iranian Message Sent to Israel

An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
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Sources Reveal to Asharq Al-Awsat Details of Iranian Message Sent to Israel

An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH
An Iranian man rides a motorbike past a billboard (2-R) depicting (L-R) late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and slain Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani at the Enqelab Square, in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH

Iran has sent a message to Israel through European channels about its possible response to any attack that comes from Israel, diplomatic sources said Friday.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iranian message sent indirectly to Israel says that Iran would “shrug off a limited Israeli strike.”

Yet Tehran warned that “it would have no choice but to cross the red line” if its oil or nuclear facilities come under attack.

The Middle East remains on high alert for further escalation, awaiting Israel's response to an Iranian missile barrage on Oct. 1. Indications that the response is near rose this week after reports said Tel Aviv was able to reduce its differences with the US administration.

Israeli reports say the response would come during Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s visit to the US on Tuesday.

The Iranian message was sent as Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Turkmenistan for an international meeting.

“Iran does not want war,” he said, but warned that Tehran “would respond if it came under attack.”

He also urged Israel to end its military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.