Bahrain government websites briefly inaccessible after cyberattack over Israel-Hamas war
The websites of two government ministries in Bahrain have briefly became inaccessible after a cyberattack took them down, purportedly over the island kingdom’s stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war
ByJON GAMBRELL Associated Press
November 21, 2023, 10:39 AM
This is a locator map for the Gulf Cooperation Council member states: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo)The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The websites of two government ministries in Bahrain briefly became inaccessible Tuesday night after a cyberattack took them down, purportedly over the island kingdom's stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
A statement posted online by a self-described group calling itself Al-Toufan, or “The Flood” in Arabic, claimed hacking the Foreign Ministry and the Information Affairs Ministry's websites. Both later became accessible.
Another statement included scans of passports for American citizens and a top Russian diplomat in Bahrain that allegedly came from the hack.
The statement said the hacks came in retaliation for “the abnormal statements issued” by the island's Al Khalifa ruling family, without elaborating. Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa opened a summit last week in the kingdom with a call for a swap between Hamas and Israel for the hostages and a halt in the bloodshed.
A Bahrain government statement sent later Tuesday night to The Associated Press acknowledged that “a number of government agency websites have today been the target of malicious cyberattacks.”
“The government of Bahrain has implemented a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and framework to address such threats,” the statement said. “Government operations were unaffected by the attacks, and work is ongoing to restore access to the targeted websites.”
In February, the self-described group issued a claim that it had taken down the websites of Bahrain’s international airport, state news agency and chamber of commerce to mark the 12-year anniversary of an Arab Spring uprising in the small Gulf country. The same shadowy self-described group targeted government websites during elections held last year that were boycotted by a banned Shiite opposition group and others.
Bahrain reached a diplomatic recognition deal with Israel in 2020 alongside the United Arab Emirates. The island kingdom, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, has drawn repeated criticism from Iran, its regional arch rival, over that.
News Related-
Indonesia's 3 presidential contenders vow peaceful campaigns ahead of next year election
-
Madagascar's main opposition candidate files a lawsuit claiming fraud in the presidential election
-
UK government reaches a pay deal with senior doctors that could end disruptive strikes
-
Poland's president swears in a government expected to last no longer than 14 days
-
Hiam Abbass' Palestinian family documentary 'Bye Bye Tiberias' applauded at Marrakech Film Festival
-
Putin signs Russia's largest national budget, bolstering military spending
-
The spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry says Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend truce for two more days
-
Pope Francis getting antibiotics for lung problem, limiting appointments: Vatican
-
Tesla sues Swedish agency as striking workers stop delivering license plates for its new vehicles
-
Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce will be extended for 2 more days, Qatar says
-
Puerto Rico opposition party to hold gubernatorial primary
-
Beijing police investigate major Chinese shadow bank Zhongzhi after it says it's insolvent
-
Wilders ally overseeing first stage of Dutch coalition-building quits over fraud allegation
-
Central European interior ministers agree to step up fight against illegal migration at EU borders