A prayer app popular in Iran was hacked to send push notifications urging users to surrender as Israeli and US strikes targeted the country. The messages promised amnesty and stated that help was on the way. Residents in Tehran and other cities reported explosions in the early hours of Saturday morning.
On the morning of February 28, 2026, residents across Tehran and other Iranian cities were jolted awake by sounds of loud explosions. Israel and the US launched joint attacks on Iran, with Israeli airstrikes hitting Tehran.
Amid the strikes, Iranians received mysterious push notifications from a hacked prayer app. The messages stated that “help is on the way” and promised amnesty if recipients surrendered. The app, commonly used for religious purposes, was compromised to deliver these urgent appeals during the ongoing military actions.
The cyberattacks occurred alongside the physical strikes, highlighting cybersecurity concerns in the region. No further details on the hackers' identity or the full extent of the app's compromise were immediately available from reports. The joint military operation marked a significant escalation, though specifics on targets and casualties were not detailed in initial accounts.
This incident combines digital interference with conventional warfare, affecting civilians directly through their mobile devices.