‘Iranian hackers’ take control of US government website and post image of a bloodied Trump
HACKERS claiming to represent Iran have taken control of a US government website - and posted an ominous warning.
A doctored image of President Donald Trump bleeding from the mouth, along with a message boasting of Iran's cyber strength, met users who clicked on the Federal Depository Library Program's website late on Saturday.
A note left by the alleged hackers read: "In the name of god. >>>>> Hacked By Iran Cyber Security Group HackerS ... ;)<<<<<. This is only small part of Iran's cyber ability ! We're always ready."
Despite hackers claiming to be operating on behalf of Iran, it is unknown if whoever accessed the website actually was doing so.
The alleged cyber attack came after Iran pinpointed 35 "key US targets" for revenge after its top general was assassinated - with America expecting retaliation "within weeks".
Hours later, rockets were fired near the US Embassy in Baghdad and at an airbase housing American troops, according to reports.
The two attacks came just hours after mourners chanted "death to America" at the funeral of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
A retaliation attack from Iran could be seen "within weeks" either at home or abroad, a senior congressional staffer told Time Magazine.
The staffer said: 'There is no indication that there is going to be a de-escalation in the near future.
"The only question is how bad is the retaliation going to be and where and what is it going to hit."
However, Trump responded by saying American forces will attack 52 targets "very fast and very hard" if revenge is sought on the US.
He tweeted: "Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American and badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently hundreds of Iranian protesters.
"He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. Iran has been nothing but problems for many years.
"Let this serve as a warning that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago).
"Some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, will be hit very fast and very hard. The USA wants no more threats."