Justice Department said an Iranian security ministry operates the fake activist persona known as Handala, which claimed responsibility for the destructive hack targeting medical tech giant Stryker.
US accuses Iran’s government of operating hacktivist group that hacked Stryker Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai 9:18 AM PDT · March 20, 2026 The U.S.
Justice Department accused Iran’s government of being behind the hacktivist group Handala, which last week claimed responsibility for the destructive cyberattack against the U.S.
In a press release published on Thursday, the Justice Department said Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) is operating Handala.
The Justice Department called the group a fake activist persona that the Iranian ministry used to carry out “psychological operations” against the regime’s enemies, to claim responsibility for cyberattacks, and to publish stolen information obtained during those hacks.
The group also called for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents, and Israeli persons, per the DOJ.
The announcement came hours after the FBI seized two websites linked to Handala , as first reported by TechCrunch.
The group used the websites to publicize its alleged cyberattacks, as well as to publish the personal information of dozens of people who allegedly worked for the Israeli military and defense contractors.