NATO Condemns Cyberattack on Albania amid Diplomatic Row with Tehran

Members of the counterterrorism unit of the Albanian police prepare to storm the Iranian embassy in Tirana yesterday (Reuters)
Members of the counterterrorism unit of the Albanian police prepare to storm the Iranian embassy in Tirana yesterday (Reuters)
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NATO Condemns Cyberattack on Albania amid Diplomatic Row with Tehran

Members of the counterterrorism unit of the Albanian police prepare to storm the Iranian embassy in Tirana yesterday (Reuters)
Members of the counterterrorism unit of the Albanian police prepare to storm the Iranian embassy in Tirana yesterday (Reuters)

NATO allies on Thursday condemned a recent cyberattack against Albania that the governments in Washington and Tirana have blamed on Iran.

The organization’s condemnation coincided with the Albanian counter-terrorism police searching the empty Iranian embassy in Tirana, hours after Iranian diplomats burned papers inside the premises following the severing of diplomatic ties over a cyberattack.

“We strongly condemn such malicious cyber activities designed to destabilize and harm the security of an ally, and disrupt the daily lives of citizens,” the North Atlantic Council, grouping the representatives of NATO’s 30 member states, said in a statement.

“NATO and allies support Albania in strengthening its cyber defence capabilities to withstand and repel such malicious cyber activities in the future,” it added.

Albania cut diplomatic relations with Iran on Wednesday when Prime Minister Edi Rama accused the Islamic Republic of committing the July attack and gave its diplomats 24 hours to close the embassy and leave the country.

In a rare video address, Rama said the cyberattack had “threatened to paralyze public services, erase digital systems and hack into state records, steal government intranet electronic communication and stir chaos and insecurity in the country.”

Washington, Albania's closest ally, also blamed Iran and promised to “take further action to hold Iran accountable for actions that threaten the security of a US ally.”

For its part, Tehran condemned Tirana's decision to cut ties, describing the reasons for the move as baseless claims.

The police, wearing masks and helmets and carrying automatic rifles, entered the Iranian embassy’s building - situated just 200 meters from Rama's office - after two cars with diplomatic plates had left, a Reuters reporter saw.

Thirty minutes later, the police were still inside.

The same reporter earlier saw a man inside the embassy throwing papers into a rusty barrel, with flames illuminating the walls of the three-story building.



US Ambassador Asks Israel to Investigate Death of US Citizen in West Bank

07 July 2025, US, Washington: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on as US President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House. (Daniel Torok/White House/dpa)
07 July 2025, US, Washington: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on as US President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House. (Daniel Torok/White House/dpa)
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US Ambassador Asks Israel to Investigate Death of US Citizen in West Bank

07 July 2025, US, Washington: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on as US President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House. (Daniel Torok/White House/dpa)
07 July 2025, US, Washington: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee looks on as US President Donald Trump hosts a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House. (Daniel Torok/White House/dpa)

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on Tuesday he has asked Israel to "aggressively" investigate the death of an American citizen who was beaten to death in the West Bank.

"There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act. Saif was just 20 yrs old," Huckabee said in a post on X.

The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately provide comment. Israel's military previously said Israel was investigating the incident.

US citizen Sayafollah Musallet, 20, also known as Saif, was severely beaten in the incident on Friday evening in Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

His family, from Tampa, Florida, said in a statement that medics tried to reach him for three hours before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance, but that he died before reaching the hospital.

"We must honor his memory by speaking out against violence and working toward a future of peace and dignity," US Representative Kathy Castor, who represents Tampa, said in a post on X. "The Administration must work with our international partners to ensure the protection of Americans abroad."

Some members of the US House of Representatives have condemned the killing of Musallet, and others have called on the US State Department to investigate the incident.

The department did not immediately respond to those calls.

Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups.