Iran-Linked Hackers Claim Control of US FBI Surveillance Drones; State Offers $10M Bounty

According to SITE Intelligence Group, on June 11 as the World Cup kicked off in North America, the Handala collective claimed to have infiltrated FBI surveillance drones deployed around tournament venues, posting footage and data asserting access to facial and license plate recognition systems.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued warnings following the claims, while the State Department announced up to $10 million in rewards for information identifying the attackers. However, analysts traced one widely circulated video to a 2024 software vendor promotional material unrelated to a drone breach, casting doubt on Handala's claims. The group has previously made unsubstantiated breach claims tied to U.S. officials' accounts.