Anonymous Hacks Syrian Defense Website

By Jack Phillips
August 8, 2011

The hacker group Anonymous defaced the Syrian Ministry of Defense website Monday, attacking the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and encouraging Syrian protesters.

Anonymous’ Twitter account gave an initial bulletin regarding the security breach. The Ministry of Defense website was later taken down but screenshots of it were uploaded to image sharing websites.

Syria has escalated its campaign against dissidents over the past week, killing hundreds in several cities. On Sunday in the city of Deir Ezzor, at least 50 civilians were killed by tanks and soldiers while they were attending a funeral.

Anonymous posted its logo in the center of the Ministry’s website and posted a message in Arabic as well as in English.

“To the Syrian people: The world stands with you against the brutal regime of Bashar Al-Assad. Know that time and history are on your side—tyrants use violence because they have nothing else,” said the message.

Before, Anonymous said that it would target the Syrian government in a Twitter posting.

“And the more violent they are, the more fragile they become. We salute your determination to be non-violent in the face of the regime’s brutality, and admire your willingness to pursue justice, not mere revenge. All tyrants will fall, and thanks to your bravery Bashar Al-Assad is next,” said the post.

The hacker organization, which has targeted a number of websites including those belonging to the U.S. government, called on the Syrian army to “rise up against the regime.”

“Anyone who orders you to kill women, children, and the elderly deserves to be tried for treason,” the post added.

The hack comes as a number of organizations and governments stepped up their rhetoric against al-Assad.

The Saudi King on Sunday released a statement to the media saying al-Assad’s use of violence in recent weeks is “not acceptable” and pulled out the ambassador from Damascus. The head of the Arab League, one a steadfast ally of al-Assad, also expressed “growing concern.”

Source: The Epoch Times.
Link: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/anonymous-hacks-syrian-defense-website-60117.html.