Israel: Pegasus found on phones of US diplomats in Africa
A mobile phone connected to the website of the Israeli company NSO, which markets the Pegasus spy program, photographed in Paris on July 21, 2021. Joel Saget AFP / Archivos
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
New twist in the case of the pirating of phones by software developed by the Israeli company.
For the first time, phones belonging to American officials were targeted.
A new episode in this saga which risks further undermining relations between Israel and the Biden administration.
Advertising
Read more
With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Michel Paul
This time the Pegasus spyware, developed by the Israeli group NSO, was found on at least 9 phones belonging to employees of the US State Department.
It is, according to the Reuters agency which revealed this information of American officials based in Uganda.
The Israeli company was blacklisted last month by the US Department of Commerce after being indicted for hacking the phones of hundreds of government officials around the world, including several heads of state.
And in particular the phone of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Asked a spokesperson for the NSO group said he had no indication of the use of software on these phones.
The accounts concerned, he added, have been suspended and an investigation is said to be ongoing.
Next week the Israeli Defense Minister is due to visit Washington to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue.
But the Pegasus affair will also be at the center of the debate.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Israel
United States
Pegasus
Diplomacy
Africa