Slain college student’s mother vows ‘fight for justice’ after illegal immigrant charged in Chicago killing

The mother of slain college student Sheridan Gorman is speaking out, vowing a "fight for justice" after the 18-year-old was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant earlier this month in Chicago.

Jessica Gorman delivered emotional remarks Saturday at a vigil in Yorktown Heights, New York, honoring her daughter, aLoyola University Chicagofreshman whose life was cut short in what authorities describe as a sudden, violent attack.

"I want to say this gently, but honestly, as a mom. I'm angry," Jessica Gorman said. "I'm like completely heartbroken, and we are going to fight for justice for our sweet Sheridan, and we're going to fight for change."

While acknowledging that "not everyone" will see the situation the same way, Jessica Gorman underscored what she described as a universal truth shared by parents.

Watch: Senate Hearing Goes Silent After Angel Father Confronts Top Dem Over Daughter's Death

"At the heart of all of this, we all want the same thing — for your children and for ours to be safe, to be protected, and to come home," Jessica Gorman said. "Because, at the end of the day, that's what this is all about. All of our kids, every single one of them, protecting them, loving them, showing up for them. And that is how we honor her."

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Sheridan Gorman, a New York native,was killedat around 1:06 a.m. March 19 while with friends near a pier in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.

Chicago Killing Reignites Sanctuary City Fight As Angel Parent Heads To Senate Hearing

Officials allege Jose Medina-Medina, 25, anillegal immigrant from Venezuela, fired one shot at the Loyola University Chicago student, killing her.

Gorman was reportedly only a few months away from completing her freshman year.

Medina-Medina was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, and was released into the U.S. under theBiden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

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At the vigil, the family's attorney, Thomas Tripodianos, warned against what he described as growing complacency about public safety.

"If we accept this, even silently, then we are accepting a reality where young people are not as safe as they should be. And that is not acceptable," Tripodianos said. "And there must be justice. Real justice."

Family members and friends also shared memories of Sheridan, remembering her impact on those around her.

"Sheridan, you are deeply loved at Loyola," Steven Betancourt, director of campus ministry at Loyola University Chicago, said. "You are deeply missed, and you will live on in the lives you touched and forever changed."

Angel Parents Slam Illinois Sanctuary Laws After 'Preventable' Tragedy In Student's Death

The Gorman family has sharply criticizedChicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, arguing that their daughter's death "demands accountability."

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"She was doing something entirely normal — walking near her campus with friends. She should be here," the Gorman family said regarding comments by Johnson.

The suspect appeared in court Friday and was ordered to remain in custody, according toFOX 32 Chicago.

He faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a gun.

Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Original article source:Slain college student's mother vows 'fight for justice' after illegal immigrant charged in Chicago killing

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March 29, 2026

Slain college student’s mother vows ‘fight for justice’ after illegal immigrant charged in Chicago killing

The mother of slain college student Sheridan Gorman is speaking out, vowing a "fight for justice" after the 18-...

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What we know on Day 30 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran: More US troops arrive in the region

Adding to the military presence in the Middle East, a US Navy ship carrying 3,500 sailors and Marines has arrived in the region.

And a new front has opened in the war after Iran proxy the Houthis fired missiles at long-time foe Israel.

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Here's the latest.

What are the main headlines?

• US deployment: The USS Tripoli, carrying 3,500 sailors and Marines, has arrived in the Middle East, said US Central Command, as the Pentagon weighs its next steps. CNN reported earlier this month that a Marine Expeditionary Unit would be deployed to the region. Such units have traditionally been used for missions like large-scale evacuations and amphibious operations that require ship-to-shore movements, including raids and assaults.

• Houthis enter war: The Houthi rebels – a Yemen-based, Iran-backed militia – waded into the expanding Middle East conflict, firing two missiles at Israel. The movement previously disrupted shipping lanes in the region, attacking vessels in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's war in Gaza. Its involvement now raises the specter of further disruption for a global shipping industry already buffeted by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

• Strait latest: Iran has agreed to allow 20 ships under Pakistani flags to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Islamabad's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a post on X. Under the agreement, two ships will cross the strait daily, he added.

What's happening on the ground?

• Tehran hit: Iranian state-affiliated media is reporting heavy bombardment across Tehran, including in civilian areas, saying explosions hit multiple parts of the capital on Saturday evening. Parchin – a site linked to military activity – was reportedly among areas targeted.

• Campus threat: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it will target American- and Israeli-affiliated universities in the region in retaliation for recent attacks on Iranian higher-education centers. The IRGC said the institutions are now considered "legitimate targets until two universities are struck."

• Health workers killed: Nine paramedics were killed and seven wounded in five separate attacks in southern Lebanon on Saturday, the World Health Organization said, marking one of the deadliest days for medical workers this month.

• Fire and sirens in the Gulf: Nations in the Gulf were again under air-raid sirens early Sunday. Bahrain's Ministry of Interior urged citizens to take shelter and "remain calm" as it sounded its alarm. Kuwait News Agency reported that the Ministry of Defense was responding to what it described as "hostile missile and drone attacks." Authorities were battling a massive blaze at Kuwait International Airport after a drone attack hit fuel tanks there, the Kuwaiti army said.

• Israel attacked: Israel's military said it was working to intercept missiles launched from Iran. Earlier, falling debris from a missile interception injured 11 people and damaged several buildings in Eshtaol, central Israel, according to the country's national emergency service.

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March 29, 2026

What we know on Day 30 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran: More US troops arrive in the region

Adding to the military presence in the Middle East, a US Navy ship carrying 3,500 sailors and Marines has arrived in the ...

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DHS funding lapse is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history

The ongoingfunding lapseat the Department of Homeland Security crossed into new territory Sunday when it became the longest partialgovernment shutdownin U.S. history.

The DHS shutdown is now in its 44th day, breaking theprevious recordwhen the department and the rest of the federal government went without funding from October until mid-November. This time around, the rest of the federal agencies and departments are funded.

Negotiations to re-open DHS were dealt a major setback Friday afterHouse Republicans votedto pass a short-term funding bill that has no viable path in the Senate. That came hours after the Senatepassed a bipartisan billto fund all of DHS except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. House GOP leadership rejected the bill, with Speaker Mike Johnson calling it "a joke."

The House-passed bill to fund all of DHS is not likely to become law. The Senate has repeatedly tried and failed to advance an identical bill since the shutdown began, falling short of the 60-vote threshold required to push it forward. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, requiring some Democratic buy-in to advance legislation. Democrats are demanding specific guardrails on immigration enforcement operations before supporting full funding for DHS, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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The shutdown, which began Feb. 14, is affecting travelers across the U.S. as some airport security lines have stretched for hours due to TSA staffing shortages. TSA officers have not received paychecks during the standoff in Washington despite showing up for work. That's led to hundreds of officers quitting and thousands calling out of work.

President Donald Trump signed an order Friday directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA workers, with paychecks expected to land as early as Monday, according to a DHS spokesperson.

ICE agents, some of whom are now stationed atairportsin an effort to help TSA, have continued to receive pay during the DHS shutdown since they're drawing on funding from Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill that was signed into law last year.

The prospects of a quick end to the shutdown are unlikely. The Senate is scheduled to be out of town until April 13, and the House is set to be out until April 14.

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March 29, 2026

DHS funding lapse is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history

The ongoingfunding lapseat the Department of Homeland Security crossed into new territory Sunday when it became the longe...

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How Arizona players' halftime talk ended 25 years of March Madness heartbreak

SAN JOSE, CA — "Here we go again."

It was the collective thought nearly everyArizonafan had when the Wildcats went into halftime of their Elite Eight matchup against Purdue down seven points. One of the best teams in program history was on the verge of a familiar result that had plagued the program for 25 years: falling short of the Final Four.

Athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois was nervous. Mix Master Mike was sweating. Families were stressed.

But while Bear Down nation was anxious, all was calm inside the Wildcats locker room.

Everyone rushed in, awaiting to hear what coach Tommy Lloyd would say to flip the script. The inspirational pep talk made for cinema.

But he didn't have anything to say.

Instead, he turned the attention to his players. Let them figure out what they need to do to change course.

That conversation changed the entire narrative of Arizona basketball.

The rallying of the Wildcats was the secret ingredient needed to get over the hump, propelling Arizona to a thunderous second half that turned the tension into elation,ending years of miserywiththe program's first Final Four trip since 2001.

Koa Peat fuels Arizona's March Madness win, leads Wildcats in scoring

When Lloyd left the microphone open, it was the veterans that grabbed it.

Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka, Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas, all players that had experienced the shortcomings and were set on making surethe talented freshmen accompanying themwouldn't suffer the same fate.

"They all talked to us and just told us to keep going. You know, we've been through adversity this season," said freshman Koa Peat. "Can't get too high or too low. Just stay even-keeled."

Lloyd and the coaching staff just listened, and couldn't be prouder how the veterans addressed the situation. It was something he'd done a few times during the regular season, but the situation absolutely called for it, because they needed to figure it out.

"The most powerful thing in a team sport is a player-led program. The coach, you have to help them navigate it, but when you can get the players to kind of own these moments, you are just so much better," he said.

By the time the players said their piece, the confidence in the room was beaming. This team was ready to get back on the court. Lloyd had one last message for them.

"Let's go kick their ass," Lloyd said.

It was a literal tale of two halves as Arizona suffocated Purdue in the final 20 minutes, turning the SAP Center into McKale Center West, the pro-Wildcats crowd rocking the entire arena.

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Arizona needed just five minutes to turn a seven-point deficit into a lead it would hold onto the rest of the way, leading by as much as 15 points late to stop any thoughts of a Boilermakers comeback.

The shots were going in, 3-pointers were falling, and the Wildcats got to the foul line just like they wanted to.

But really, the story was the defense.

Purdue got a halftime lead thanks to seven 3-pointers, but the perimeter was closed in the second half. It missed its next seven attempts, only making one 3-pointer, coming with eight seconds left when Arizona was already celebrating.

In fact, Purdue's shooting was just off. It shot 32.1% in the second half, making just nine shots, just above the seven free throws it made in the same time frame.

The Boilermakers were exceptional at taking care of the ball, with the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country at 2.22. Arizona forced turnovers, with Purdue turning it over 11 times, resulting in 15 Arizona points that only added to the pressure.

Arizona took Purdue out completely, resulting in a 22-point advantage in the last 20 minutes.

"We had a couple of turnovers here and there, and then obviously missed shots. Then we weren't able to get a couple of stops," said Purdue guard Braden Smith. "Obviously, credit to Arizona. They're an unbelievable team."

An unbelievable team that pulled off a result that was starting to seem unachievable.

Arizona has had so many good squads this century that were capable of reaching the Final Four, but it felt like some sort of hex prevented the Wildcats from getting there. Since 2010, Arizona has the fourth-most wins in Division I ... but was the only program in the top five that had not made a Final Four.

That's why, when the buzzer officially sounded, there was a collective exhale that was 25 years in the making.

"I am speechless," Reed-Francois told USA TODAY Sports. "Just feels like a sense of joy. It's just pure joy, and look at all these people around here that are just so excited."

A joy that Lloyd and company can't wait to soak in; there likely will be quite the crowd awaiting the team when it lands back at Tucson International Airport.

"Making it to the Final Four is big," Bradley said. "We appreciate Tucson, the supporters and everybody behind the scenes. We just are happy that we get to reward them with this."

After dominating the regular season and West Region, Arizona has proven this isn't the same old Arizona. It's no longer a team that chokes in the tournament.

It's a national power again. And a team not just satisfied with breaking the Final Four drought, but out to win the program's second national title, and first since 1997.

That's thanks to a halftime conversation that changed everything for the Wildcats.

"We're still fighting, and we're still fighting to get better and see if we can get a little bit better before next Saturday," Lloyd said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Inside halftime talk that lifted Arizona basketball to Final Four

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March 28, 2026

How Arizona players' halftime talk ended 25 years of March Madness heartbreak

SAN JOSE, CA — "Here we go again." It was the collective thought nearly everyArizonafan had when the ...

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USMNT vs. Belgium player ratings: Pochettino left with many questions after blowout loss

The U.S. men's national team fell 5-2 to Belgium in an international friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, March 28.

In one of his last evaluation chances before this summer's World Cup, Mauricio Pochettino leaned of the majority of his first-choice options. The only surprise was Matt Turner getting the nod in goal as the starting job appears to still be in flux.

The U.S. more than held its own against the ninth-ranked Belgians in the first half, often being the more aggressive of the two sides. That mindset was rewarded near the 40-minute mark as Weston McKennie opened the scoring, finishing off a corner kick from close range. However, soon after, Belgium found an equalizer just before the halftime whistle.

The second 45 was a completely different story as the Red Devils took over the match and proved their quality. It took them just eight minutes to find the go-ahead goal through Amadou Onana. A penalty kick and two Dodi Lukebakio goals later and the Americans found themselves getting blown out.

Let's take a look back at how the USMNT players fared in a disappointing loss to Belgium.

GK: Matt Turner - 5.5

Luck may not be on his side after getting a prime chance to win the starting job. Despite making several good saves, he was beaten five times. Even if there was little he could do to stop any of the goals, conceding five times is never a good sign.

RB: Tim Weah - 4.5

Playing in a wingback type of role, he really didn't do either element of the job very well. He was ineffective in the attacking aspect and was constantly lost defensively having to defend an extremely dynamic winger in Jeremy Doku, who created a ton of chances.

CB: Mark McKenzie - 5

The pairing with Tim Ream didn't inspire any confidence in this team's ability to defend teams of elite quality. While it's hard to pinpoint any specific individual mistakes he made, as a whole something clearly isn't working and needs to be addressed.

CB: Tim Ream - 4.5

For better or worse, Ream seems to be Pochettino's guy. He's been given the armband and appears to be the on-field leader of the defense. Unfortunately, his club form has followed him to the international level as he looks a step off the pace and conceded a penalty. It may have been a harsh call, but that's the reality of the VAR era. It has to be a worrying sign that the team's most senior leader is in questionable form heading into the summer.

LB: Antonee Robinson - 7

The return of Jedi to the starting lineup was sorely needed. He showed exactly what the left side of the formation has been missing with both his adventures forward and defensive ability. His willingness to make runs in behind and stretch the opposing back line is crucial to Pochettino's attacking identity. Set piece delivery seems to be creeping into his arsenal of weapons as well as he played a perfect corner that looped onto the foot of McKennie for the opening goal.

CM: Tanner Tessmann - 6

Tessmann may be the most difficult player to assess going into the summer in terms of where exactly he fits on the roster and within the squad. He did a fine job in this one as the player who drops in between the centerbacks in the buildup. His minutes could be directly tied to the health of Tyler Adams going forward.

CM: Johnny Cardoso - 6

Curiously only received 45 minutes before being replaced. He's fighting for a spot on the final roster and didn't hurt his chances with this performance as he was clean on the ball and did fine defensively. While he had no standout moments, he's clearly capable of doing the job if called upon this summer.

RAM: Weston McKennie - 7.5

Playing as the team's most versatile attacking option, Wes floated all around the field to get involved as much as possible. After being denied a goal midway through the first half, he made no mistakes on his second chance, turning in a perfectly delivered Robinson corner from close range.

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It's quite clear that he is an integral part of Pochettino's creative plans in attack. He will be leaned on heavily to produce like this throughout the summer.

CAM: Malik Tillman - 6

It seemed like a forgettable day for Tillman, but he contributed three key passes from his central attacking position. He wasn't overly involved or noticeable dynamic, but still found a way to produce tangible results against a top team.

LAM: Christian Pulisic - 4.5

Pulisic's struggles in 2026 continue as he simply doesn't look like himself. The explosive dynamism we're used to seeing isn't there. He looks disjointed and a step slow. Pochettino can only hope something clicks with him and he rediscovers his top form soon.

ST: Folarin Balogun - 5.5

It was a decent showing for the USA's striker in this one. His holdup play was fine, but it's his off-the-ball movement that sets him apart from the other options behind him. He had one solid chance but was unable to beat the goalkeeper.

Sub: Cristian Roldan - 4.5

The only thing that changed at halftime was his inclusion. The field tilted dramatically after he stepped on the field. Is it fair to lay that blame at his feet? Probably not. But the optics are horrible.

Sub: Max Arfsten - 5

Struggled to close down the wings and was punished for it. He's not Antonee Robinson, but he's a fine alternative if needed.

Sub: Alex Freeman - 5

Clearly a better defender than Weah, but Belgium still enjoyed success on their left flank after he came on.

Sub: Sebastian Berhalter - 4.5

Didn't get a chance to get on the ball much. His only memorable moment was failing to clear a ball out of the box resulting in a goal for Belgium.

Sub: Gio Reyna - 5

Just didn't get involved much in his 20 minutes. He probably should've been put on sooner to try and shift the momentum.

Sub: Joe Scally - 5

He came into a horrible situation and didn't affect much. His versatility should earn him a place on the final roster.

Sub: Patrick Agyemang - 6.5

Found the back of the net after being gifted a golden chance. To his credit, he made no mistake with his finish.

Sub: Ricardo Pepi - 6

Did well to provide the pressure that led to the Belgium giveaway on the late goal. That could help his chances in Pochettino's eyes as he likes his strikers to work hard defensively.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:USMNT vs. Belgium player ratings: Pochettino left with many questions after blowout loss

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March 28, 2026

USMNT vs. Belgium player ratings: Pochettino left with many questions after blowout loss

The U.S. men's national team fell 5-2 to Belgium in an international friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta,...

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No. 2 Michigan beats Louisville 71-52 to reach Elite Eight

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 19 points, fellow sophomore Syla Swords added 16 and No. 2 Michigan overcame a sluggish start for a 71-52 victory over Louisville in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.

The Wolverines had a 16-0 run in the second quarter to erase an 11-point deficit, their biggest, then broke a tie in the third quarter by scoring 17 consecutive points and cruising to their second Elite Eight, both in the past five seasons.

Michigan (28-6) tied a school record for victories and will play top-seeded Texas on Monday night for a spot in the Final Four.

Elif Istanbulluoglu scored 18 points for the third-seeded Cardinals (29-8), who shot 35% and were outscored 49-16 over a two-quarter stretch from midway through the second to the middle of the fourth.

Olson, the top scorer among a bevy of sophomores leading both teams, missed four of her first five shots, and the Wolverines went more than six minutes without scoring to start the game.

Te'Yala Delfosse, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, had a 3-pointer during the second-quarter run that she capped with a three-point play for Michigan's first lead at 28-25.

FORT WORTH 3 REGIONAL

NO. 1 TEXAS 76, NO. 5 KENTUCKY 54

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Rori Harmon had 11 points, seven assists and six steals and Texas beat fellow SEC member Kentucky, sending the top-seeded Longhorns to another Elite Eight in thewomen's NCAA Tournament.

Jordan Lee had 18 points whileAll-America forward Madison Bookerhad 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Longhorns (34-3), who have an 11-game winning streak. Harmon also had seven rebounds.

Amelia Hassett hit a 3-pointer on the first shot of the game for the Wildcats (25-11), but their only lead didn't last long. Texas responded with 15-0 run, in the middle of which Harmon had three defensive rebounds and four assists in a span of 90 seconds.

The Longhorns will play second-seeded Michigan in the Fort Worth Regional 3 final on Monday night. TheWolverines beat Louisville 71-52earlier Saturday, setting up the only regional final this year matching the top two seeds.

Texas is in the Elite Eight for the third year in a row undercoach Vic Schaefer. Last year it went to the Final Four for the first time since 2003.

Clara Strack, the 6-foot-5 center who came from Virginia Tech with coach Kenny Brooks two years ago, led the Wildcats with 16 points. Asia Boone had 11 points while Teonni Key added 10 points and nine rebounds.

SACRAMENTO 4 REGIONAL

NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA 94, NO. 4 OKLAHOMA 68

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ta'Niya Latson scored 28 points and Raven Johnson added 18 to help top-seed South Carolina beat No. 4 seed Oklahoma and advance to the Elite Eight of the women'sMarch Madnesstournament.

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South Carolina will face No. 3 seed TCU on Monday night for the chance to go to the Final Four in Phoenix from the Sacramento 4 Regional.

The Gamecocks have advanced to the national semifinals in six of the past eight Final Fours and won three national championships during that stretch. Oklahoma was looking for its first trip to the regional since the 2009-10 season which was the Sonners last time in the Final Four.

The Gamecocks (34-3) jumped out to a strong start behind Latson, who was playing in her first Sweet 16. The senior guard played the first three years of her career at Florida State before coming to South Carolina this season. She scored eight of the teams first 10 points as the Gamecocks went up 10-0.

Johnson scoring nine points as the Gamecocks were up 23-13 after the first quarter.

Oklahoma (26-8) turned the ball over on three of its first four possessions in the second quarter and South Carolina took advantage. Latson's four-point play with 46 seconds left in the half made it 47-28. The Sooners got a stop on the next possession, but Sahara Williams missed a wide-open layup just before the buzzer.

Latson finished the first half with 18 points and Johnson had 16. Second-teamAP All-AmericaJoyce Edwards was scoreless in the opening 20 minutes. It didn't matter as the Gamecocks had enough offense from Latson and Johnson.

NO. 3 TCU 79, No. 10VIRGINIA 69

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Marta Suarez had 33 points and 10 rebounds as part of a nearly unstoppable duo with Olivia Miles, and No. 3 seed TCU beat 10th-seeded Virginia in the Sweet 16 of thewomen's NCAA Tournament.

TCU (32-5), making its second straight appearance in the Elite Eight, will face No. 1 seed South Carolina on Monday for a trip to the Final Four.

Miles, a senior and a three-time All-American, finished with her own gaudy stat line of 28 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

A few weeks from now, Suarez and Miles will likely be WNBA draft picks, but for now, their final collegiate season and the chance they took to come to TCU has paid off.

The Horned Frogs went on 17-4 run to start the second half that put them ahead for good, even as the Cavaliers pressed aggressively and cut the lead to six points with 27.1 seconds to go.

Paris Clark scored 20 points and Kymora Johnson had 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Virginia (22-12), the lone double-digit seed to reach the Sweet 16.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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March 28, 2026

No. 2 Michigan beats Louisville 71-52 to reach Elite Eight

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Olivia Olson scored 19 points, fellow sophomore Syla Swords added 16 and No. 2 Michigan overcame...

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Hacked hospitals, hidden spyware: Iran conflict shows how digital fight is ingrained in warfare

WASHINGTON (AP) — As they fled anIranian missile strike, some Israelis with Android phones received a text offering a link to real-time information about bomb shelters. But instead of a helpful app, the link downloaded spyware giving hackers access to the device's camera, location and all its data.

Theoperation, attributed to Iran, showed sophisticated coordination and is just the latest tactic in a cyber conflict that pits the U.S. and Israel against Iran and its digital proxies. As Iran and its supporters seek to use their cyber capabilities to compensate for their military disadvantages, they are demonstrating how disinformation,artificial intelligenceand hacking are now ingrained in modern warfare.

The bogus texts received recently appeared to be timed to coincide with the missile strikes, representing a novel combination of digital and physical attacks, said Gil Messing, chief of staff at Check Point Research, a cybersecurity firm with offices in Israel and the U.S.

"This was sent to people while they were running to shelters to defend themselves," Messing said. "The fact it's synced and at the same minute ... is a first."

The digital fight is likely to persist even if a ceasefire is reached, experts said, because it's a lot easier and cheaper than conventional conflict and because it is designed not to kill or conquer, but to spy, steal and frighten.

Iran-linked groups are turning to high-volume, low-impact cyberattacks

While high in volume, most of the cyberattacks linked to the war have been relatively minor when it comes to damage to economic or military networks. But they have put many U.S. and Israeli companies on the defensive, forcing them to quickly patch old security weaknesses.

Investigators at the Utah-based security firm DigiCert have tracked nearly 5,800 cyberattacks so far mounted by nearly 50 different groups tied to Iran. While most of the attacks targeted U.S. or Israeli companies, DigiCert also found attacks on networks in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and other countries in the region.

Many of the attacks are easily thwarted by the latest cybersecurity precautions. But they can inflict serious damage on organizations with out-of-date security and impose a demand on resources even when unsuccessful.

Then there's the psychological impact on companies that may do business with the military.

"There are a lot more attacks happening that aren't being reported," said Michael Smith, DigiCert's field chief technology officer.

A pro-Iranian hacking groupclaimed responsibility Friday for infiltratingan account ofFBI Director Kash Patel, posting what appeared to be years-old photographs of him, along with a work resume and other personal documents. Many of those records appeared to be more than a decade old.

It's similar to a lot of the cyberattacks linked to pro-Iran hackers: splashy and designed to boost morale among supporters, while undermining the confidence of the opponent but without much impact to the war effort.

Smith said these high-volume, low-impact attacks are "a way of telling people in other countries that you can still reach out and touch them even though they're on a different continent. That makes them more of an intimidation tactic."

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Health care and data centers have been a target

Iran is likely to target the weakest links in American cybersecurity: supply chains that support the economy and the war effort, as well as critical infrastructure like ports, rail stations, water plants and hospitals.

Iran also is targeting data centers with both cyber and conventional weapons, showing how important the centers have become to the economy, communications and military information security.

This month, hackers supporting Iran claimed responsibility forhacking Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology company. The group known as Handala claimed the strike was in retaliation for suspected U.S.strikes that killed Iranian schoolchildren.

Cybersecurity researchers at Halcyon recently published the findings of another recent cyberattack targeting a health care company. Halcyon did not reveal the name of the company but said the hackers used a tool that U.S. authorities havelinked to Iranto install destructive ransomware that shut the company out of its own network.

The hackers never demanded a ransom, suggesting they were motivated by destruction and chaos, not profit.

Together with the attack on Stryker, "this suggests a deliberate focus on the medical sector rather than targets of opportunity," said Cynthia Kaiser, senior vice president at Halcyon. "As this conflict continues, we should expect that targeting to intensify."

Artificial intelligence is providing a boost

AI can be used both to increase the volume and speed of cyberattacks as well as allow hackers to automate much of the process.

But it's disinformation where AI has really demonstrated its corrosive impact on public trust. Supporters of both sides have spread bogus images of atrocities or decisive victories that never happened. One deepfake image of sunken U.S. warships has racked up more than 100 million views.

Authorities in Iran have limited internet access and are working to shape the view Iranians receive of the war with propaganda and disinformation. Iranian state-run media, for instance, has begun labeling actual footage of the war as fake, sometimes substituting its own doctored images, according to research at NewsGuard, a U.S. company that tracks disinformation.

Heightened concerns about the risks posed by AI and hacking prompted the State Department to open a Bureau of Emerging Threats last year focused on new technologies and how they could be used against the U.S. It joins similar efforts already underway at agencies including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Security Agency.

AI also plays a role in defending against cyberattacks by automating and speeding the work, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently told Congress.

The technology, she said, "will increasingly shape cyber operations with both cyber operators and defenders using these tools to improve their speed and effectiveness," Gabbard said.

While Russia and China are seen as greater cyberthreats, Iran has nonetheless launched several operations targeting Americans. In recent years, groups working for Tehran have infiltrated the email system of President Donald Trump's campaign,targeted U.S. water plantsand tried to breach the networks used by the military and defense contractors. They have impersonated American protesters online as a way to covertly encourageprotests against Israel.

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March 28, 2026

Hacked hospitals, hidden spyware: Iran conflict shows how digital fight is ingrained in warfare

WASHINGTON (AP) — As they fled anIranian missile strike, some Israelis with Android phones received a text offering a lin...

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