Iran-linked cyber group claims release of personal info of over 2,000 US Marines

A hacking outfit calling itself Handala, believed to be connected to Iran, said on Tuesday (28 April) that it had published personal details of US Marines stationed in the Persian Gulf.

In a message posted on its Telegram channel, the group claimed it had released information relating to 2,379 service members, reports NDTV.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the hackers posted identifying details on Telegram and described the disclosure as proof of their "surveillance capabilities".

Iraq-based Shafaq News reported that US personnel deployed in the region also received threatening WhatsApp messages, warning them that they were being watched and could be attacked.

Handala further alleged that it had obtained more extensive data, including information about family members, residential addresses, daily movements, and troop activity.

The group suggested that additional material could be made public.

Pentagon examines scope of breach

The claim has sparked alarm within the US defence establishment because of the security risks associated with exposing the identities and whereabouts of military personnel.

American officials are now assessing how extensive the breach may be and what it could mean for operational security.

Investigators are expected to examine the method used to obtain the data and determine whether other systems may also have been infiltrated.

Group earlier claimed hack of FBI director's email

Last month, the same hacking group said it had broken into the personal email account of Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It later published photographs of Patel online along with what it claimed was his résumé.

On its website, Handala Hack Team declared that Patel had joined what it described as its list of successfully hacked targets.

Hack surfaces amid heightened US-Iran friction

The alleged cyberattack comes against the backdrop of growing tensions between United States and Iran.

US President Donald Trump recently asserted that Tehran had made contact while facing mounting pressure.

"Iran has just informed us that they are in a 'State of Collapse.' They want us to 'Open the Hormuz Strait,' as soon as possible," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In another post, he added: "Iran can't get their act together. They don't know how to sign a non nuclear deal. They better get smart soon!"

Cyber warfare increasingly shaping global tensions

The episode underscores the growing role of cyber operations in international conflict.

Alongside military and diplomatic confrontation, digital attacks targeting sensitive personnel records, infrastructure, and communications are becoming an increasingly significant battleground.

If confirmed, the breach would mark a serious escalation, highlighting how state-linked or proxy cyber actors can place military personnel at direct risk far beyond traditional conflict zones.