Conflicts are usually fought with missiles and soldiers, but these days they also unfold across digital battlegrounds. Recent events in the Middle East, specifically the Israel-Iran war in June 2025, have highlighted how cybersecurity can play a decisive role in modern warfare, with Israel emerging as a notable example of a nation using cyber capabilities strategically. From disrupting communications to targeting systems that fund hostile activities, cyber operations show how technology can influence conflicts without a single shot being fired.
Cyber attacks are not only hacking businesses and personal data for money. Governments and public institutions were always a target, and cyber has become a powerful tool that can shape the course of geopolitical events.
This blog explores how recent cyber activities illustrate the growing role of cyber warfare and cybersecurity in modern conflicts, offering examples that reveal why investing in cyber defense is crucial.
Why Cybersecurity Matters More Than Ever
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It’s a core element of national security. Countries around the world are increasingly under attack, with cyber warfare now capable of disrupting essential infrastructure, public services, and even military operations.
In 2025, the United States remains the most targeted country for cyberattacks, followed by China, Russia, India, and the UK. These nations are on the frontlines of cyber conflicts due to their geopolitical influence, military presence, and economic power.
The global cost of cybercrime is projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually in 2025, making cyberattacks one of the largest drivers of financial loss globally, surpassing the GDP of most nations and becoming the world’s third-largest “economy” after the U.S. and China.
Public institutions are especially vulnerable. Around 38% of public-sector organizations report insufficient cyber resilience, compared to just 10% in medium-to-large private companies. Even more concerning, nearly half of public-sector organizations lack sufficient cybersecurity talent, a significant increase from 2024.
These alarming figures reveal why modern conflicts, like the recent Israel-Iran cyber exchanges, are increasingly being fought in cyberspace and why governments must prioritize cybersecurity to safeguard national stability.
Inside the Digital Frontlines: Cyber Tactics in the Israel-Iran War
In the recent Israel-Iran conflict, cyber warfare shaped the battlefield in groundbreaking ways.
One of the most dramatic examples comes from the covert operations against Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist organization heavily backed and funded by Iran. In a shocking display of ingenuity, Israel managed to plant bombs inside electronic pagers, devices Hezbollah operatives used for communication. Disguised as ordinary gadgets, these beepers were secretly booby-trapped. When they exploded, they killed or injured important Hezbollah members and disrupted the group’s communication networks. This operation was a chilling reminder that in modern warfare, even the simplest device can become a weapon, and cyber-enabled sabotage can destabilize an entire organization without a single missile strike.
According to The Wall Street Journal, a hacker group known as “Dror Torf,” linked to Israeli intelligence, reportedly destroyed $90 million in cryptocurrency linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the 12-day war.
The damage didn’t stop there. The panic triggered a bank run, and even though Bank Melli – one of Iran’s largest commercial banks – wasn’t directly attacked, it couldn’t meet withdrawal demands. The result? A collapse of the Tehran Stock Exchange and a 12% plunge in the Iranian rial.
Meanwhile, another hacker group, Predatory Sparrow, known for past cyberattacks on Iran’s railway and fuel systems, took credit for hacking Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The platform was described as a key financial channel for the Revolutionary Guards. Hackers allegedly redirected funds to irrecoverable wallets, effectively destroying Iran’s ability to use those digital assets.
Israel, often working in close collaboration with the United States, also conducted sophisticated cyberattacks on Iran’s nuclear program. From sabotaging centrifuges to disrupting sensitive research facilities, these operations have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions and served as powerful deterrents without escalating into full-scale war.
This series of cyberattacks disrupted and destabilized. It undermined the Iranian regime’s financial systems, delayed nuclear ambitions, and caused ripple effects across the economy. From banks to satellite systems, gas pumps to steel plants, Iran’s critical infrastructure became a battlefield, and cyber was the weapon.
These examples show what the future of war looks like – silent battles fought with technology, not only missiles. Cyberattacks can severely hurt enemies without firing a single bullet. The big lesson? Cybersecurity isn’t just for defense. It’s also a powerful weapon that can change the outcome of a war.
Building Cyber Defenders: Cybersecurity Reskilling Programs and Upskilling Courses
The recent cyber conflicts, from disrupting terrorist networks to crippling financial systems, prove that cybersecurity is now a front-line defense in both national security and business stability. As nations strengthen their cyber capabilities, organizations of all sizes must do the same, because the next cyberattack could just as easily target a government office as a private company.
This shift in modern conflict shows a clear need: more trained cyber professionals who can defend critical systems, detect threats early, and respond fast and effectively.
Wawiwa is a global tech education provider, offering instructor-led reskilling and upskilling programs tailored to the latest industry trends, helping companies build an in-house cybersecurity defense. Wawiwa’s cybersecurity reskilling programs, such as Cybersecurity Analyst and IT and SOC Analyst, are tailored to meet industry needs, equipping participants with the skills to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats.
These programs combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on training and virtual cyber labs, ensuring that graduates are ready to protect your organization from cyber threats, detect vulnerabilities, and respond effectively to security incidents.
The Cybersecurity Analyst Program prepares individuals without any previous background to become job-ready Cyber Security Analysts or Security Operations Center (SOC) team members in 8 months. The entire program is run as an ongoing lab during which participants are required to install attack and defense environments, set up and build cybersecurity tools, and experience scenarios simulating real-world events.
Similarly, the IT and SOC Analyst Program is ideal for individuals without previous background, who wish to advance their careers in entry-level IT and cybersecurity roles in just 5-6 months. The program includes practical exercises and lab sessions where participants apply their skills to real-world scenarios.
Wawiwa also offers an array of cybersecurity upskilling courses designed to accommodate learners at all levels. With flexible learning paths tailored to different levels of expertise, organizations can select courses that align with their teams’ roles and business objectives. These courses emphasize hands-on practice, equipping participants with proficiency in the latest tools and technologies needed to excel in cybersecurity and support your organization in achieving its goals.
As conflicts increasingly unfold, who knows – by investing in cybersecurity training, your team might one day help protect your organization or even your country in the face of cyber warfare.
