IDF Cyber Chief Warns of Massive Unseen Cyber Threats Facing Israel and US

Israel and the United States are facing cyber threats of a scale far beyond what has been publicly reported, according to IDF Cyber Defense Directorate chief Maj.-Gen. Aviad Dagan. In remarks delivered Tuesday, Dagan emphasized that dozens of cyberattacks could have already crippled critical national infrastructure if not intercepted an alarming signal of the stakes in modern digital warfare.

“We cannot mislead ourselves,” Dagan stated. “Future cyberattacks will dwarf what we have seen to date. We are obligated to protect national security.” He stressed that despite Israel’s global reputation as a cyber powerhouse, resting on past success is not an option.

The IDF’s cyber chief noted that while headlines often focus on data breaches and password leaks, the true danger lies in attacks targeting real-world systems water supplies, power grids, hospitals, and transportation networks. These are the silent battlegrounds of today’s digital warzones.

One such attack nearly succeeded. On April 23, 2020, Iranian operatives managed to breach Israel’s water system in an attempt to release toxic chlorine into public water supplies. Though thwarted in time, the incident served as a chilling warning about how far adversaries are willing to go and how close they are to success.

Since then, Iran, China, and other hostile regimes have continued targeting Israeli infrastructure, with hospitals and vital institutions periodically coming under attack. Though no catastrophic damage has occurred yet, the threat remains constant.

In response, Israel and the United States have deepened their cyber alliance. Dagan praised joint efforts with US Cyber Command, particularly a recent cyber warfare drill conducted at a secure American facility. These exercises ongoing since 2015 are designed to prepare both nations for the most sophisticated hacking attempts on the horizon.

“Together with our American partners, we are building the systems and protocols that will protect our national interests in the digital age,” Dagan said.

He described the partnership as not only strategic but essential, calling the US “our partners” in the truest sense. Shared training, intelligence, and technological collaboration form the backbone of a growing cyber alliance that safeguards the democratic world against rogue regimes and cyber terrorists.

While foreign sources suggest Israel has hit back allegedly targeting Iranian ports, gas stations, and key infrastructure in retaliation the focus remains on prevention, not escalation.

Cyber defense has become a frontline of modern warfare, and Israel is once again at the cutting edge, protecting not only itself but cooperating with allies to secure the future.

As these threats grow more complex and dangerous, the message from Israel’s cyber command is clear: the time to act is now. Share this report and subscribe to our newsletter for more in-depth insights into Israel’s role in defending freedom in the digital era.