Iranian hackers have reportedly taken control of a US Government website before posting a chilling message warning of revenge.
Web users who tried to access the American Federal Depository Library Programme online were instead met with a long message from a group called Islamic Republic of Iran.
The message warned "we are always ready" before signing off with the hashtag #hardrevenge
It read: “This is message from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“We will not stop supporting our friends in the regions, the oppressed people of Palestine, the oppressed people of Yemen, the people, and the Syrian government, the people and government of Iraq, the oppressed people of Bahrain, the true mujahideen resistance in Lebanon and Palestine.
“They will be supported by us.”
The hacked web page also displayed a picture of US President Donald Trump being punched in the side of the face, with blood pouring from his mouth.
The chilling hack comes just days after Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday, leading to condemnation, mourning and warnings of retaliation.
In the days since the attack, President Trump has threatened to strike back if Iran does take any action against US assets or American people in the region, saying that he has a list of 52 Iranian targets that could be hit.
The FDLP is a programme that allows federal publications to be viewed by the public at any time and at no cost. After the initial post appeared, users were later met by an ‘Error 520’ message on the site.
Iranian hackers have claimed responsibility for the cyber attack, but a US government spokesperson has said “there is no confirmation” that this is the case.
Sara Sendek, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said: “We are aware the website of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was defaced with pro-Iranian, anti-US messaging.
“At this time, there is no confirmation that this was the action of Iranian state-sponsored actors.”
