'Help has arrived': How a hacked prayer app targeted Iranians as US, Israel rained down missiles on Tehran

The app disruption is seen as part of a broader cyber campaign coinciding with Israel's and the U.S. military's strikes on Tehran.

• Israel and US launch cyber and airstrikes targeting Iran
• Iranian prayer app hacked, urging military to defect
• Khamenei reportedly killed, Iran declares 40 days of mourning

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Israel appears to have launched a coordinated cyber operation targeting Iran alongside U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The operation included a hack of the widely used Iranian prayer app, BadeSaba Calendar, which helps Muslims track daily prayer times and has over five million downloads on Google Play alone, it has been learnt from a Wall Street Journal report.

On Saturday morning, millions of users reportedly received notifications in Persian urging Iran’s military personnel to defect from the regime and join efforts to “liberate the country.” Screenshots shared on social media showed messages declaring that “help has arrived.”

The app disruption is seen as part of a broader cyber campaign coinciding with Israel's and the U.S. military's strikes on Tehran.

Iranian state media reported that some domestic news outlets, including the official IRNA news agency, had been hijacked to display articles discrediting the regime and highlighting the impact of the attacks.

One article on IRNA’s front page read, “A terrifying hour for the security forces of the Ayatollahs’ regime; the IRGC and the Basij have suffered a crippling blow.”

Earlier on Saturday, U.S. and Israeli forces reportedly targeted key military installations in Tehran, killing Khamenei and senior Iranian officials, according to senior Israeli sources and U.S. President Donald Trump’s social media statements. Iran has since declared 40 days of national mourning and seven public holidays.

The strikes have sent shockwaves across the Gulf.

Iranian forces retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and 27 U.S. military bases in the region. Commercial shipping and aviation have been disrupted, with airlines suspending flights and maritime companies rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, avoiding the Strait of Hormuz.

Videos circulating on social media show jubilant celebrations across Iranian cities including Tehran, Karaj, Fuladshahr, Borazjan, and Mamasani. Residents danced in streets, waved flags, honked car horns, and set off fireworks, even as missiles and planes passed overhead. Many Iranians see the strikes and Khamenei’s reported death as a rare opportunity for change after decades of authoritarian rule.

Celebrations have extended globally, with Iranian-Americans in Los Angeles taking to the streets and calling for exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to take leadership.

The BadeSaba hack illustrates how modern conflicts are increasingly fought not just on the battlefield but in cyberspace. By targeting apps widely used by civilians and military personnel, Israel and the U.S. appear to be aiming to sow confusion within the Iranian military, weaken regime loyalty, and amplify psychological pressure during the military strikes.

As Iran grapples with internal upheaval, regional retaliation, and a leadership vacuum, the combination of cyber, military, and social forces may mark a decisive moment in the country’s turbulent history.