Iranian-Linked Hackers Disrupt Services in Tirana Cyber Assault

A cyberattack blamed on a pro-Iranian hacking group has brought public services to a standstill in Albania’s capital, Tirana, causing widespread disruption across the city.

 

Local media reported that the group, calling itself Homeland Justice, claimed responsibility for the attack, which took down the city’s official website, compromised data, and erased key digital infrastructure. The group is believed to be aligned with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has cited Albania’s support for the exiled opposition group, the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), as the reason behind the breach.

 

Municipal workers reportedly lost access to internal systems, including email servers, and citizens experienced delays in obtaining travel documents, licences, and accessing nursery registration services. Public transport systems were also affected.

 

Albania’s National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) condemned the incident and said recovery operations were ongoing. By Monday, Tirana’s website remained offline, and investigations continued into the extent of the damage.

 

This is not the first time Albania has been targeted by suspected Iranian hackers. Homeland Justice has previously claimed attacks on Albanian state institutions, telecom networks and airlines. In 2022, a major cyberattack attributed to Tehran led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between Albania and Iran, prompting sanctions from the United States.

 

Iran has consistently rejected any connection to these cyber incidents, labelling the accusations politically motivated.

 

The timing of this latest intrusion adds to mounting cyber tensions across the region. Security experts have warned of increased activity from Iranian-aligned groups, particularly in light of recent unrest in the Middle East and Western pressure on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

 

The attack has raised fresh concerns about Albania’s digital resilience and the potential for geopolitical rivalries to spill into cyberspace.