The Paris prosecutor has initiated an investigation into the Shahid Kaveh cyber unit of the IRGC, following cyberattacks on French supermarkets' refrigeration systems in October. These attacks resulted in the spoilage of millions of dollars' worth of food across approximately 700 retail sites in France.
The French National Cybersecurity Agency, ANSSI, has linked these attacks to the Iranian cyber unit Shahid Kaveh, which is associated with the IRGC. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking international arrest warrants in connection with these incidents.
In addition to the supermarket attacks, the cyber campaign also targeted several small hydroelectric power plants in France, causing moderate effects. This series of attacks has been described as unprecedented in scale and aggression by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
Cybersecurity experts have noted that the attacks align with the modus operandi of Iranian hackers, who aim to disrupt and assert power abroad. The incidents are part of a broader trend of similar attacks in Europe, Israel, and the U.S.
Shahid Kaveh has previously been linked to cyberattacks on American water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure. These events underscore the challenges in securing operational technology, which is often outdated and vulnerable.