The U.S. and Israel Launch Large-Scale DDoS Attacks on Iran. “The Modern Battlefield of Integrated Physical and Digital Warfare” - SkyCloud

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In a major escalation of regional conflict, U.S. and Israeli forces launched a coordinated "hybrid" offensive against the Islamic Republic on Saturday, February 28, 2026. As cruise missiles and fighter jets targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers, a massive, simultaneous cyberattack crippled the nation's digital infrastructure, effectively isolating the Iranian leadership.

According to global internet monitor NetBlocks, Iran’s national connectivity plummeted to just 4% of normal levels on Saturday. This near-total blackout affected:

• National Energy & Aviation: Deep intrusions were reported in systems governing critical power grids and flight navigation.

• The National Information Network: Iran’s "intranets"—designed to remain functional even if cut off from the global web—reportedly failed under the pressure of the joint offensive.

• State Media: The official IRNA news agency went offline for an extended period, while the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency was reportedly compromised, displaying subversive messages directed at Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

A New Strategic Paradigm

Intelligence sources suggest the primary objective of the digital campaign was to achieve "command-and-control paralysis." By dismantling the IRGC’s communication infrastructure, the coalition successfully obstructed the regime's ability to coordinate counterattacks or deploy drone and ballistic missile units.

Industry experts are calling this the most significant example of integrated warfare in history, where the "digital fog" of war is used to amplify the impact of physical strikes. The disruption left Tehran cut off both internally and from the international community at the height of the military operation.

SkyCloud: The Integration of Physical and Digital Warfare in Modern Conflict

In response to the incident, SkyCloud (Ticker: 7405) noted that digital warfare in the Middle East had already begun in January of this year. At that time, several banks in the region were subjected to multi-day DDoS attacks, with peak traffic reaching approximately 1.2 Tbps, intermittently degrading the performance of online banking and ATM services. This suggests that the deployment and execution of digital warfare operations is a long-term and complex process.

SkyCloud further analyzed that modern warfare is no longer merely a contest of traditional weapons, but rather a comprehensive form of “integrated physical and digital warfare.” Whereas past wars focused on the superiority of physical weaponry, today the digital realm has become another critical battlefield. Paralyzing an adversary’s systems—government websites, media platforms, financial systems—can directly disrupt a nation’s normal operations and the daily lives of its citizens. This new form of warfare blurs traditional front lines, making cyber offense and defense a vital component of national security.

Hacking Websites and Applications: The Fusion of Psychological and Information Warfare

Beyond website disruptions, numerous platforms were deeply compromised. Tasnim News Agency, closely associated with the IRGC, suffered severe interference and hacking, reportedly displaying anti–Ali Khamenei messages. Hackers also infiltrated multiple news websites to display various messages, and even breached a religious calendar application called BadeSaba—which has been downloaded more than five million times—causing it to display the message “The time for reckoning has arrived,” urging armed forces personnel to lay down their weapons and join the people.

SkyCloud observed that infiltrating civilian applications is not merely technical sabotage, but a form of psychological and information warfare aimed at undermining both military morale and public confidence.

At the time of writing, SkyCloud noted that the official website of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) remained inaccessible, further demonstrating the immediacy and destructive impact of digital attacks.

Implications: Information Defense and Cybersecurity as Equal Pillars of National Defense

The surprise U.S.–Israel strike on Iran offers profound lessons for geopolitically sensitive regions worldwide. SkyCloud emphasized that in national defense planning, information defense and cybersecurity must stand alongside traditional military preparedness. The vulnerability of digital infrastructure could become a fatal weakness in moments of crisis.

Moreover, this conflict makes clear that modern digital warfare will not rely on a single attack method. In addition to DDoS attacks and system intrusions, future operations may involve trojans, zero-day exploits, and new AI-enhanced attack techniques. This reality demands that nations continuously strengthen their cyber defense capabilities to confront increasingly complex and diversified digital threats.

About SkyCloud

SkyCloud (Ticker: 7405) is dedicated to the research and innovation of CDN acceleration, edge computing, and Anti-DDoS defense technologies, providing enterprises with globally leading network security and performance solutions. SkyCloud operates its own high-efficiency nodes deployed at major international submarine cable hubs in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. These nodes effectively defend against large-scale attack traffic while reducing network latency, ensuring stable and efficient business operations. With years of technological expertise and operational experience, SkyCloud continues to safeguard the speed and security of the global digital ecosystem through innovation.

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