The little-known website for the Federal Depository
Library Program greeted visitors with an unusual image over the weekend, that
of a bloody Donald Trump being punched in the face. It was posted by hackers
along with a pro-Iran warning message that the hack is only the beginning.
According to a BBC report, the brief message said the hack was in retaliation for the death of the Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. “Martyrdom was (Soleimani’s) reward for years of implacable efforts. With his departure and with God’s power, his work and path will not cease and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs.”
Last week, the United States killed Soleimani, a top
Iranian military commander, in an airstrike, sparking protests in many
countries in the Middle-East and escalating tensions in a volatile region.
A spokesperson for Homeland Security said that they were
aware of the hack and that the website was taken offline quickly after it was
discovered. U.S. agencies continue to monitor the situation, but they also said
that they don’t think it was the act of a group sponsored by Iran.
Iran-backed hackers have a notable presence online, and
they’ve been implicated in many incidents over the years. One of the more
famous groups is APT33, which has hit high-value targets in the United States,
Saudi Arabia and South Korea.