Hackers say they obtained at least 19,000 files from ex-Israeli army chief Halevi's phone

A hacking group aligned with Iran said it obtained at least 19,000 sensitive files after targeting the personal phone of former Israeli army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, the Handala Hack Team said it carried out a years-long operation against Halevi, gaining access to what it described as "more than 19,000 confidential images and videos from the most secret meetings".

"All your top-secret facilities, crisis rooms, maps, and even the tiniest details of your command centers have long been like an open book to us," the group said.

Marking what could be one of the most severe cyber incidents involving a senior figure in Israel's security establishment, the files, some of which were seen by Middle East Eye, showed Halevi meeting with Arab officials.

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