Microsoft report: Iran expands cyberattacks, Israel and US top targets

Microsoft's annual Digital Defense Report showed Israel ranked second globally among countries most affected by cyberattacks in the second half of 2026, with 7.6 percent of observed activity, while Middle Eastern countries topped the scale of targeting. According to the report, Israel was the main target of Iran-linked cyber threat actors, accounting for about 39 percent of incidents, followed by the United States at 23 percent and the UAE at 9 percent. The report covers July 2025 to June 2026, and notes an expansion of Iranian targets and integration of cyber activity with military operations and influence campaigns.