Beirut airport cyberattack targets Hezbollah

Screen displays at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Lebanon were defaced with messages on Jan. 7, after hackers successfully compromised the flight information display systems at Beirut’s main international airport.

The messages criticized Hezbollah, the Lebanese Islamist political party and militant group, and Iran. Multiple flight information displays were defaced with the same message, according to footage shared with local media.

The message said in part that “Rafik Hariri airport does not belong to Hezbollah,” adding, “O Nassrallah [the Lebanese secretary-general of Hezbollah], you will not find a supporter if Lebanon is plunged into war. You bear your responsibility and its consequences, Hezbollah.”

According to the privately-owned Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC), the same attack also disrupted the smooth operation of the airport’s baggage handling system, with police putting greater reliance on the use of police dogs during baggage inspection checks.

Fog of Cyberwar

Carried out in the name of a Christian Lebanese group called Soldiers of God, the messages ostensibly criticize Iran and Hezbollah for drawing Lebanon towards a war with Israel by launching drone and rocket attacks.

However the Christian Lebanese group named in the messages has taken to social media to deny any involvement in the hack.

A Lebanese security source told the Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel might well be behind the attack, while adding that a great deal of work needs to be carried out before any attribution.

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