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Israeli military tightens restrictions on officers' phones over hacking fears: Report

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 27 November 2025 11:08 AM

The Israeli military reportedly plans to impose new restrictions on mobile phone use by senior officers to curb leaks of sensitive information, particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023, surprise attack known as Operation Al‑Aqsa Flood.

According to Israeli Army Radio, commanders at the rank of lieutenant colonel and above will be required under the directive to use only Apple iPhones for official communications.

The measure is intended to reduce the risk of intrusions on senior officers' devices, the report said Wednesday.

The Israeli military is also expected to prohibit officers from carrying any official phone other than an iPhone, with Android devices permitted solely for personal use. The directive is anticipated within days and will apply to officers from lieutenant colonel up to the general staff.

The move is part of a broader initiative to limit unintentional exposure through social media and messaging apps, which can potentially reveal behavioral patterns.

The development builds on previous initiatives to strengthen mobile security within the Israeli military, which included training sessions and internal drills aimed at enhancing officers' awareness of social engineering strategies.

In recent years, the occupation military has conducted simulations involving so-called "honeypots" to evaluate and strengthen the digital discipline of its units.

Israeli military authorities have consistently cautioned that adversarial groups exploit social media platforms and messaging applications to infiltrate soldiers' devices and monitor troop movements.

The military had earlier alleged that Hamas was exploiting WhatsApp to gather intelligence from soldiers stationed at the Gaza border. Troops were advised to promptly report any suspicious messages to their commanders.

In 2019, the military cautioned its forces about the Palestinian resistance movement's leveraging WhatsApp to collect information on troop movements around the Gaza area.