(NewsNation) – The U.S. federal government is actively investigating a series of cyberattacks on American water facilities that are believed to have been orchestrated by a cyber group linked to the Iranian government. Politico reported.

These attacks specifically targeted facilities using Israeli-made technology.

One such breach gained attention when the Tehran-linked Cyber ​​Av3ngers group claimed responsibility for the attack on a Pennsylvania water agency. Authorities nationwide are currently examining a “single-digit” number of affected facilities.

Despite the violations, no significant disruptions were reported. Cybersecurity experts analyzing the Pennsylvania incident suggest that the attacks are aimed more at stoking concerns about the use of Israeli equipment than causing operational damage.

This rise in cyber threats comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Hamas, a militant group long backed by Iran. Additionally, the attacks coincide with a series of drone and missile attacks by Iranian proxy groups on U.S. troops in the Middle East.

Water facilities in the United States are vulnerable due to inadequate funding and staffing, particularly among smaller utilities. In response, the Biden administration has worked to address these challenges by expanding collaboration with private companies in the water sector.

In the recent cyberattack on the Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority near Pittsburgh, the Cyber ​​​​Av3ngers hacked a digital control panel from the Israeli company Unitronics. The group disabled the control panel and took control of the digital screen used to adjust water pressure. A message appeared on the screen: “Any equipment manufactured in Israel is the legal target of Cyber ​​Av3ngers.”

Despite the breach, Robert Bible, the water authority’s general manager, assured the public that the attackers were unable to alter drinking water chemicals. He confirmed that there had been no disruption to operations at the affected station, which serves 1,200 people.

According to Lt. According to Adam Reed, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Communications Office, the investigation into the Aliquippa incident was referred to federal authorities, with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency actively involved.

On Tuesday, The Record reported that a power utility in North Texas that serves two million people fell victim to a specific hacker group that appeared to have nothing to do with the attack in Pennsylvania. A spokesman for the North Texas Municipal Water District clarified that, unlike the Pennsylvania case, the utility did not use Unitronics products.

Leaders from the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Counterterrorism Center spoke the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security in relation to the worldwide Threats to the Nation 15th of November.

FBI Director Christopher Wray stressed that “lone wolf extremists” remain one of the country’s biggest concerns amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.