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LONDON: Hackers linked to the Iranian regime reportedly forced a small British power-generating facility to shut down for four days last month in what could be the first known successful cyberattack of its kind against a UK energy site. The incident, reported by The Telegraph, has raised fresh concerns about the ability of state-linked cyber groups to move beyond digital intrusion and cause disruption to physical infrastructure. However, British officials stressed that the affected facility was small and that the wider electricity system was never at risk. The identity and location of the facility have not been disclosed for security reasons. According to reports, staff spent several days working to restore the plant and return its systems to normal operation. The attack did not cause any significant impact on Britain’s overall electricity generation or supply. A government source described the facility as extremely small compared with the capacity of the national grid and said it did not fall within the category of major generators required to report certain cyber incidents. Despite the limited disruption, the incident has attracted attention because of what it demonstrates about the evolving cyber threat. If confirmed, it would represent a significant step for hackers associated with Iran, showing that they were able to penetrate an energy facility and temporarily interrupt its operations. The precise method used to gain access to the plant has not been publicly disclosed. Nor has the British government formally attributed the attack to a specific Iranian hacking group. The National Cyber Security Centre, which works with organisations to protect critical infrastructure, declined to comment on the individual incident. British authorities have nevertheless taken the incident seriously. Government officials reportedly briefed senior executives at power companies and provided advice on how operators should respond to the growing threat of cyberattacks. The incident comes amid heightened concern in Western countries over cyber operations linked to Iran, Russia, China and North Korea. British cybersecurity officials have repeatedly warned organisations to strengthen their defences as geopolitical tensions increase. The attack also reportedly occurred around the same period as cyber incidents targeting water infrastructure in several US states, although the relationship between the incidents has not been established publicly. For Britain’s energy sector, the episode serves as a warning even though the national grid remained unaffected. Smaller generators and industrial facilities can still provide potential entry points for attackers seeking to test their capabilities. The immediate disruption may have been limited, but the incident has intensified scrutiny of Britain’s energy cybersecurity. Authorities now face the challenge of ensuring that a temporary shutdown at a small facility does not become a blueprint for attacks against larger and more strategically important infrastructure.

BEIRUT: A fragile ceasefire in southern Lebanon is facing another major test after Israeli strikes killed at least 11 people, including civilians, according to Lebanese officials and international media reports. Israel said the attacks targeted Hezbollah positions and claimed to have killed a senior commander. The Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon and claimed that a Hezbollah commander, identified in reports as Abu Hassan, was killed. Israeli officials have described the strikes as a response to Hezbollah activity in the area. Lebanese officials, however, said civilians were among those killed in the attacks. Reports said three children and two women were among the victims, while several others were wounded. One of the strikes reportedly hit a home in the village of Ansar, where members of the same family were killed. The latest violence comes despite a ceasefire intended to prevent a renewed escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. The continued strikes have raised fresh fears that the fragile truce could unravel. Lebanon’s leadership has condemned the attacks, warning that continued military action could undermine efforts to restore stability along the border. The escalation also comes amid unresolved disputes over Hezbollah’s weapons and Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon. With tensions still high, residents in affected communities remain fearful that another cycle of violence could begin.