"WhatsApp".. A New Digital Front in the Covert War Between Israel and Iran

The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered a new and unfamiliar phase, as the popular messaging application "WhatsApp" has transformed into a digital battleground between the two sides, according to Israeli reports.

Israeli Warnings of a "Soft Breach"

The newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry warned its employees and diplomats about WhatsApp groups believed to be managed from within Iran, Pakistan, and other "hostile" countries, following reports of several Israeli diplomats being added to groups without their knowledge or consent.

The report quoted the ministry's security official as saying:

> "Recently, reports have emerged about individuals being added to WhatsApp groups with no connection to their managers, and it has been found that some are managed from numbers belonging to adversaries in Iran and Pakistan."



The official added that the purpose of these groups may be to gather information or monitor official activities through digital platforms, urging employees to adjust the app's settings so that they can only be added to any group by their personal contacts.

Digital Espionage War

These warnings come amid the escalation of the electronic espionage war between Tehran and Tel Aviv since the war that broke out between them last June and lasted for 12 days, during which both sides exchanged accusations of carrying out mutual espionage and hacking operations.

In contrast, Iranian authorities recently announced the execution of sentences against individuals convicted of espionage for Israel, as part of a wide security campaign targeting networks suspected of being linked to the "Mossad." A new law also came into effect in Iran last Wednesday, tightening penalties for those convicted of espionage for Israel or the United States.

Invisible War

Observers believe that what is happening on "WhatsApp" is merely a new chapter in the invisible war between Iran and Israel, where each side tries to exploit the digital space as a platform for espionage, influence, and information gathering, at a time when direct military confrontations are declining and electronic and psychological battles are escalating.