Shin Bet on High Alert: Israel Braces for Iranian cyber Retaliation Following Tehran Strikes

As Israeli airstrikes rocked Tehran in a dramatic escalation of the long-standing conflict with Iran, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) moved swiftly into high alert, launching a full-scale counter-terrorism and cyber defense effort in anticipation of Iranian revenge attacks.

While the Israeli public and media celebrated the air force’s success deep within Iranian territory, for the Shin Bet, the conclusion of the air offensive marked only the beginning of a critical defensive campaign. The agency, which had been part of the operation's classified early planning stages, activated its special operations command center to full capacity, instructing all units with a sharp and unequivocal policy: “Zero attacks against Israel.”

Heightened Threat Scenarios

Security assessments within the Israeli defense establishment outlined a range of possible Iranian retaliatory scenarios. These included:

• Violent unrest in Judea and Samaria

• Assassination plots against senior Israeli figures by domestic sleeper cells

• Cyberattacks targeting national infrastructure

• Attacks on Israeli diplomats and institutions abroad, including civil aviation threats

According to senior security officials, Iranian motivation for revenge has reached a peak, with each passing day of Israeli air superiority in Iran deepening the regime's humiliation and intensifying the threat of retaliation.

Iranian Threat Matrix

For decades, Iran has pursued multi-dimensional strategies to threaten Israel’s security, including its nuclear program, development of advanced missile systems, and aggressive cyber capabilities. Iran’s network of regional proxies—Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad—and third-party partners such as the Houthis serve as constant pressure points on Israel’s borders and abroad.

The Revolutionary Guards’ cyber divisions have also posed serious challenges. Comprised of specialized units targeting vital infrastructure, government agencies, and mobile communications, as well as the volunteer-based Basij cyber army, the Iranian cyber campaign incorporates disinformation, hacking, phishing, and psychological warfare—primarily via social media.

Shin Bet’s Cyber Defense Efforts

In response, the Shin Bet has enacted robust cyber defenses. Its cyber unit swiftly raised the nation’s “digital defense walls” and initiated preemptive measures to mitigate threats.

One operation, described internally as a “success,” involved direct contact with Israeli citizens targeted by Iranian hackers. Shin Bet cyber operatives personally alerted individuals and guided them through urgent steps to neutralize the threats—actions that prevented the extraction of sensitive data and potential surveillance.

Though officials declined to comment on the full extent of cyber threats thwarted, especially concerning the energy, water, and communications sectors, experts within Israel’s tech sector praised the Shin Bet’s rapid and effective response.

Espionage Within: Israeli Citizens Recruited by Iran

Since the beginning of the war, the Shin Bet has uncovered 25 cases of Israeli citizens spying for Iran, resulting in over 35 indictments. In the past two months alone, 25 additional operations were conducted targeting individuals suspected of maintaining contact with Iranian operatives.

These included formal warnings issued in collaboration with the Israel Police, as well as interrogations and arrests. The agency has stepped up its internal counterintelligence efforts, signaling a new phase of vigilance and enforcement.

Covert War Resumes

As visible military confrontations ease, the covert war between Iran and Israel resumes with full intensity. The Shin Bet now carries the heavy burden of shielding the nation from a motivated and multifaceted enemy determined to avenge the strikes on its soil.

Israel’s intelligence community remains united in its belief: the true test of national resilience will not be the airstrikes in Tehran—but the silent, complex campaign to come.