Jerusalem Post Israeli news website hacked on Iranian general Qasem Soleimani killing anniversary

Hackers targeted the website of an Israeli newspaper early on Monday, replacing its content with an image that threatened a location associated with Israel's undeclared nuclear weapons programme on the second anniversary of the killing of a prominent Iranian general.

While no group immediately claimed responsibility, the image posted on The Jerusalem Post's website included a missile coming down from a fist bearing a ring long associated with Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed by a US drone strike in Iraq two years ago on Monday.

The image included an exploding target from a recent Iranian military drill designed to look like the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center near the city of Dimona.

The facility is already home to decades-old underground laboratories that reprocess the reactor’s spent rods to obtain weapons-grade plutonium for Israel’s nuclear bomb programme, which makes Tel Aviv the only Middle Eastern state with an undeclared atomic weapons programme.

Under its policy of nuclear ambiguity, Israel neither confirms nor denies having atomic weapons.

In a tweet, The Jerusalem Post acknowledged being the target of hackers.

“We are aware of the apparent hacking of our website, alongside a direct threat to Israel,” the English-language newspaper wrote. “We are working to resolve the issue & thank readers for your patience and understanding.”

There was no immediate response from the Israeli government. The hack comes after Israel’s former military intelligence chief in late December publicly acknowledged his country was involved in Soleimani's killing.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge the hack either early on Monday. However, the country in recent days has stepped up its commemorations of the slain Revolutionary Guard general. Memorial services were scheduled to be held Monday marking his death.

As the head of the Quds, or Jerusalem, Force of the Revolutionary Guard, Soleimani led all of its expeditionary forces and frequently shuttled between Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

Israel has suggested it could attack Iranian atomic sites should negotiations on rescuing the Iran nuclear agreement not lead to a pact it feels places sufficient limits on Tehran.

This is despite Israel having an undeclared nuclear weapons programme. 👇https://t.co/M4MsxMZMOn

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) December 31, 2021

Quds Force members have deployed into Syria’s long war to support the regime's President Bashar Assad, as well as into Iraq in the wake of the 2003 US invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a longtime foe of Tehran.

Soleimani rose to prominence by advising forces fighting the so-called Islamic State terror group in Iraq and in Syria on behalf of the embattled Assad.

US officials say the Guard under Soleimani taught Iraqi militants how to manufacture and use especially deadly roadside bombs against US troops after the invasion of Iraq.

Iran has denied that. Soleimani himself remains popular among many Iranians, who see him as a hero fighting Iran’s enemies abroad.