The official website of the municipality of Tirana has been offline since early on June 20 following a cyberattack that an Iranian hacker group known as Homeland Justice has claimed responsibility for. 

The group, which has previously targeted Albanian state systems, posted a video on the Telegram messaging platform asserting it was behind the incident, according to reports in the Albanian media.

Previously, Homeland Justice resurfaced with fresh threats against Albania, citing the Balkan country’s role in hosting members of the exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), as tensions in the Middle East escalate, reported Politico last week.

Homeland Justice, believed to be affiliated with Iranian state actors, has a history of targeting Albania’s digital infrastructure. In 2022, the group was linked to major breaches of government systems and the leak of sensitive data belonging to Albanian citizens. The attacks prompted Tirana to sever diplomatic ties with Tehran, accusing the Iranian government of orchestrating the cyber campaign.

The group has now issued a statement on its Telegram channel appearing to justify attacks on Albanian soil. “Iranians have the right to strike the Manzë camp with missiles,” the message read, referring to the MEK base near the coastal city of Durrës.

The renewed threats come in the wake of rising hostilities between Iran and Israel. Homeland Justice, which has previously conducted cyberattacks on Albanian institutions, appears to be leveraging the conflict to amplify its campaign against Albania.

As part of its latest activities, the group launched a cyberattack on the official website of the Municipality of Tirana. Authorities have not yet disclosed the full extent of the damage.

The group’s latest message included inflammatory language and veiled threats. “You are wandering close to Death,” it said. “Over 3,000 terrorists were placed in Albania. Albanian soil was forced to host these beasts.” The message ended with an ominous statement: “We hope Iranians (who now have the legal right to launch their supernatural missiles at the Manzë camp) understand this.”

The MEK, designated a terrorist organisation by Iran, has been based in Albania since 2016 under a relocation deal supported by the United States. Tehran views the group as a hostile force, and its presence in Albania has become a flashpoint in bilateral relations.