Iranian Cyber Group Handala Targets US Troops in Bahrain

The Iranian cyber group Handala, linked to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, has launched an intimidation campaign targeting US troops stationed in Bahrain through WhatsApp messages claiming the service members are under surveillance and will soon face drone and missile attacks. The group, which has been active since 2008, recently published personal information of over 2,300 US Marines and has escalated its operations from attacking Israeli infrastructure to directly threatening US military personnel and institutions. The US government has posted a 10 million dollar reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of Handala members, following their disruptive attacks on organizations including medical technology giant Stryker and the personal Gmail account of FBI Director Kash Patel.