Monday, April 11, 2011

The Fifth Dimension-Cyber Warfare..!!

It was a dark night of the second week of November, 2010. Four men landed on a deserted part of Iranian coastal area, by means of a Dolphin class submarine & were vanished in minutes from the spot.
Before anyone came to know, submarine dived, & was out of Iranian waters. This submarine was of Israeli Navy, which was deputed on the survalliance of Irani coasts since 2007. All of four men landed, were from 'Mossad', two of them were from 'Death Squad' division and other two were Nuclear engineers.
Mission of 'Seath Squad' members was the assassination of two important Iranian officials & nuclear engineers were there to guide a sabotage attack on Natanz nuclear complex of Iran.
Natanz nuclear complex, Iran


In the morning of 29th November, the 'Death Squad' members targeted two key officials of Iran.
With the help of a motorbike, one 'Death Squad' member threw gernade in the car of Dr. Majid Shehriyari (a key scientist of Iran), at the time when he was sitting in his car, for his office. Dr. Majid died at the spot and his wife got critically injured. 
Dr. Majid Shehriyari (Late)
Destroyed car of Dr. Majid after the attack


Just moments later of this attack on Dr. Majid, a key defense dept. official of Iran, Faridoon Abbassi Dadani was attacked exactly in the same way. He survived but got critically injured.


After moments later of these deadly attacks, Israeli nuclear engineers transmitted a signal of a secret code near the Natanz nuclear complex. After few minutes, Iranian scientists could be seen running inside & outside the complex facilities. The centrifuge machines of the complex had gone completely out of control. Their motors were rotating too fast. In minutes, 984 machines of the complex were no more. Due to this sabotage attack, Iranian nuclear program was thrown 3 years back. This was a high tech cyber attack from Israel on Iranian centrifuges, by means of a computer virus, named 'Stuxnet computer worms.' 20% of the whole Iranian centrifuges were gone in this attack & obviously, replacement of machinery on such a large scale is not an easy task. It requires a lot of funds and a long period of time.
Space image of Natanz nuclear plant


This attack, which was carried out with the help of 'Stuxnet computer worms' was first most sophisticated cyber attack till date. This attack has added fifth dimension in the modern warfare. Before this, wars were fought on land, sea, air & in space. Now this fifth dimension is cyber warfare. 'Stuxnet computer worms' is the most sophisticated cyber super weapon developed till date. This cyber weapon can be easily used on any machinery controlled by computer. 
Point to remember is that Pentagon has already declared all its digital material as a national asset of USA. And moreover, in the command of General Keith B. Alexander, US cyber command is now operational. Including Britain, some other western countries have also established cyber commands. From these developments, we can easily get an idea about the future warfare scenario. 
Everyone knows that Iran initiated its nuclear program in the era of 'Shah' in 1953, but the government of 'Mehmood Ahmadi Najad' is working on the program with full devotion & is determined.
Iranian President Mehmood Ahmadi Najad visiting Natanz nuclear plant
Keeping in mind the security of nuclear facilities, Iran initiated its nuclear program on 16 different locations . All these Iranian nuclear facilities were developed underground. Due to this, it was not an easy task to attack & destroy them.  
Iran's nuclear program is not acceptable to western governments, Arab countries, USA & Israel. Especially Israeli leaders have warned a no. of times in these words:
" Nuclear Iran is not acceptable at any cost. Iran will be destroyed before becoming a nuclear power." 
In the beginning, Israel urged America to launch an attack on Iran. But due to its involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, USA was not in position to launch a direct attack on Iran. Then Israel imposed tough sanctions on Iran, with the help of UNO & USA, but these were proved to be in vain.
In these conditions, Israel itself decided to launch a direct attack     on Iran & work was started on all options i.e. land, air or sea attack & sabotage. Israeli air force practiced high tech air attack exercises in June, 2008. These exercises were carried out 870 miles from Israeli coasts, in the Mediterranean Sea. In these exercises, almost every type of air crafts was used. Targeted air attack and air refueling of planes, were practiced.
Air refueling of the helicopters during the Israeli exercises


In 2010, with the collaboration of Greek air force, Israeli air force carry out large scale air exercises on Crete Island. In these exercises F-161, F-151 bombers & Sea Stallion helicopters were used. 
Crete Island, where joint exercises were carried out


But as discussed above, Iranian nuclear facilities are underground, due to this reason MPR-500 (multi-purpose rigid bomb) was developed. This bomb is specially designed to penetrate through even double reinforced concrete walls & has the capability to destroy strongest bunkers. 
MPR-500


Beside these all preparations Israel was focusing on sabotage mission, specially. There was a lot of pressure on American President Obama to destroy the nuclear facilities of Iran, So President Obama arranged a secret policy, with Israel, against Iran, which was named 'Engage, Sanctions & Sabotage.'
American President Barack Obama


Exactly according to the policy, talks were continued with Iran through different channels. On the other hand. tough sanctions were imposed on Iran, by the help of UNO. In the core of these two acts, work on the sabotage attack on Iranian centrifuges, was continued.
A team of top Israeli scientists and programmers was made, and was given a task to develop such a computer virus, which should be capable of destroying the Iranian computerized centrifuges. So at Damona, in the Negeve desert of Israel, work on this project was initiated in a heavily guarded facility. First, copies of Iranian centrifuges were developed. These copies were developed to test the virus on them before the proper attack. 
Space photograph of Natanz nuclear facility, Iran


After a continuous hard work of two years, the Israeli team was succeeded in the development of the computer virus, named 'Stuxnet computer worms', which is proved to be the most sophisticated cyber weapon till date. After proper testing on the copies of Iranian centrifuges, this cyber weapon was used successfully, resulting in their destruction. 
Now, this cyber weapon can be used against any country. By the help of this virus Air defense systems, communication systems & nuclear plants can easily be disabled. Any country, except USA & Israel has no arrangements to cope with this cyber monster.


Dear readers,
I always try to convey such information to you people, which seems to me interesting and very little known. In my next post I will give complete detail about Stuxnet computer worms, Inshallah. In my next post you will find detailed answers of the following questions:


1. What is a computer worm?
2. What actually Stuxnet computer worm is, & how does it work?
3. What is the opinion and findings of International experts about this cyber super weapon?
4. How and who was involved in the development of this cyber monster?
5. By which means Israel was succeeded in the development of the exact copies of Iranian centrifuges?
6. By whom complete information about Iranian centrifuges was provided to Israel?


Thanks for caring,


Ali Murad.