They leaked phone numbers and names: Iranian hack of an Israeli officer’s phone

13th March 2026

2 minutes read

They leaked phone numbers and names: Iranian hack of an Israeli officer’s phone

A phone belonging to an officer in the Israeli army spokesperson’s unit was reportedly hacked by an Iranian cyber group, leading to the leak of contact information.

According to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the Iranian hacking group “Hanzala” published the names and phone numbers stored on the phone of an officer serving in the Israeli army’s spokesperson unit.

The Israeli military stated that the breach occurred about six months ago, but the information has only recently circulated widely on social media.

It also indicated that another device belonging to a member of the unit or one of its departments may have been compromised as well, according to reporting cited by Yedioth Ahronoth.

What the hackers published

In posts shared on the platforms X and Instagram, the group released contact data stolen from the device, including full names and phone numbers.

They also published various texts that included analyses related to assessments of the media situation.

In one post, the group claimed it had hacked accounts connected to the “army” and obtained information from them, including phone numbers and details about “spies” located in countries belonging to what they described as the “Axis of Resistance.”

Internal message and security measures

Following the incident, an internal message circulated among the unit’s commanders stating that “the Iranian hacker group Hanzala hacked the phone of a member of the unit approximately six months ago, and all the phone numbers stored on the device have now been published.”

The message also included instructions aimed at preventing similar incidents. Personnel were asked not to answer calls from unknown numbers, not to click on suspicious links, and to block any contact from unidentified sources.

Commanders were also instructed to review the leaked file to determine whether any of their personnel were listed and to ensure that they were familiar with the relevant security procedures.

The position of the Israeli military

Speaking to the Yedioth Ahronoth website, a former soldier from the unit whose data appeared in the hackers’ post said that no one from the army spokesperson’s unit had contacted her to inform her about the incident.

She added that she contacted Israel’s National Cyber Directorate and was told that the matter was known to the relevant authorities.

In response, the Israeli military stated that the issue is under review and that preliminary checks indicate it is an old incident that has been recirculated rather than a recent breach.