WASHINGTON, March 27, (V7N) — A pro‑Iranian hacking group known as Handala claimed Friday to have compromised a personal account belonging to FBI Director Kash Patel, releasing online a cache of old photographs, resumes, and personal documents.

The leaked materials, many dating back more than a decade, included images of Patel with a vintage sports car, another with a cigar, and emails detailing personal travel and business.

The FBI did not immediately comment, but a source familiar with the matter confirmed Patel’s personal email account had been breached. Reports from late 2024 had warned Patel of targeting by Iranian hackers, though it remains unclear when the intrusion occurred.

Handala, which aligns itself with pro‑Iranian and pro‑Palestinian causes, said Patel’s name now joins its list of “successfully hacked victims.” The group has previously claimed responsibility for disrupting systems at Stryker, a Michigan‑based medical technology company, framing its attacks as retaliation for alleged U.S. strikes that killed Iranian schoolchildren.

Last week, the Justice Department announced it had seized four web domains linked to Iranian cyber operations, citing Handala among the perpetrators.

The incident highlights the growing threat posed by state‑linked hacking groups targeting U.S. officials and institutions, underscoring the use of proxy cyber actors in geopolitical conflicts.

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