The Dutch cabinet is on alert for Iranian cyberattacks, Justice Minister David van Weel (VVD) said after meeting EU justice ministers in Brussels. He declined to say whether the Netherlands has taken extra measures to protect Israeli and American sites or Jewish institutions.
“Some countries have taken more measures than others. I will not make further public statements about that”, Van Weel said. EU ministers met on Thursday to discuss how the war in Iran could affect security across the European Union.
Ministers judged it highly likely that Iran will launch cyberattacks, primarily against American and Israeli targets, though such attacks could extend to other victims, Van Weel said. He added that the overall terrorist threat level has not clearly risen since the war began, but authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
They also discussed the wider consequences if the conflict continues, including risks to EU citizens in the region and economic fallout. Ministers flagged instability in Lebanon and Syria, where conditions are already fragile, and noted that Iran hosts many Afghan refugees. A prolonged conflict could increase security risks and refugee flows, affecting the EU, Van Weel warned.
The meeting produced no concrete measures. For now, ministers say sharing information and ensuring a common understanding of the threats are the priorities.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
