Feds accuse Iran-backed network of directing European terror attacks over FaceTime

U.S. prosecutors have unsealed an indictment accusing three men of orchestrating a campaign of terror attacks across Europe on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The alleged attacks targeted Jewish and American sites, including synagogues in Belgium, the Netherlands, and London, and U.S. bank buildings in Amsterdam and Paris. One London arson incident was reportedly streamed over FaceTime and projected onto a screen with a militia's logo, while a separate plot aimed to attack a UK air base used by U.S. bombers.

For cybersecurity professionals and the public, this case highlights the evolving operational tradecraft of state-sponsored threat actors. The use of mainstream, encrypted communications like FaceTime for real-time command and propaganda filming blurs the lines between digital espionage and physical violence. It serves as a stark reminder that geopolitical tensions increasingly manifest as hybrid threats targeting both digital infrastructure and physical communities.