- The allegation by France that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is behind the cyberattacks on the country’s supermarket refrigeration systems is an important development in the developing relationship between technology and conflict at the national and international level.
- The attack on the refrigeration systems is one of the examples of how even a regular commercial infrastructure can be targeted during the conflict.
- The possible link between the disruption of blood bank refrigerators and the subsequent attacks shows how far the problem goes.
- Digital infrastructure ensuring the functioning of food supply, healthcare services, and commerce can be targeted during geopolitical rivalry.
The allegation by France that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is behind the cyberattacks on the country’s supermarket refrigeration systems is an important development in the developing relationship between technology and conflict at the national and international level. The attack on hundreds of French supermarkets, which took place in October, has damaged the refrigerators that store the nation’s food stocks and has led to massive fire outbreaks, with millions of euros worth of food going bad.
Shahid Kaveh, an alleged offensive cyberattack group that operates under the auspices of the IRGC, has been named by French investigators as being behind the cyberattack. It was alleged that the attack has been linked through digital traces left by the group, including references to the Persian language and other patterns observed in prior cyberattacks. There has been no response from the Iranian government to the latest accusation against its state, as Tehran denies the accusations of malicious activities.
Cyber Warfare and the New Form of Warfare
In terms of international relations, the example shows how the nature of modern warfare has expanded beyond traditional armed conflict. Security studies used to concentrate solely on the protection of the territory, military forces and inter-state conflict. Nowadays, the growing dependence on cyber infrastructure has changed the understanding of national security.
The attack on the refrigeration systems is one of the examples of how even a regular commercial infrastructure can be targeted during the conflict. The supermarkets, food transportation system and refrigeration storage systems are usually not seen as the targets of the armed conflict, yet they might play an important role in it.
This example shows the essence of asymmetric warfare when one party exploits relatively cheap and unconventional means to have disproportionate effects on the opponent. The use of cyber attacks allows for creating an effect without sending any forces or participating in any armed conflict. In this case, a cyber attack on the refrigeration system allowed raising the temperature to approximately 50 degrees and thus destroying food products and, in some cases, causing fires.
The importance is not only about the monetary loss but about the exposed weakness – that is, it is possible to disrupt the civilian support services using technologies that may lack security or old software.
Realism: Cyber Capabilities as Instruments of State Power
From a realist perspective in international relations, which sees states as strategic actors operating in an international system marked by rivalry and mistrust, it is clear that capabilities such as military and technology are means of state power.
Should the claims of France be true, the attacks would serve as an example of how cyber capabilities could be used to inflict a cost upon the enemy while being at arm’s length from direct military engagement. Such actions can put pressure and show off capabilities without necessarily causing instant repercussions of a conventional attack.
The overall picture of the Iran war becomes important in this case, because attacks in France and potential attacks on the US military refrigeration centres show that geopolitical tension is expanding into civilian and business networks.
Nevertheless, the available information does not confirm that all reported attacks are linked together or represent a single planned campaign.
Another element of realism in France’s reaction to the situation lies in its approach to deterrence. Through the threats of sanctions for Europe, international search orders, and naming the suspected cyber warfare division, Paris tries to increase the costs of such operations in the future.
Securitisation Theory: Civilian Infrastructure as National Security
The incident is a good example of securitisation theory, which states how certain problems may be perceived by the government as a threat to existence that requires immediate political decision-making. The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the attack a sabotage and a huge threat to national interest and public safety.
This is important since the attacked facility is not military but a refrigeration system of supermarkets. With this approach, France managed to transform cybersecurity into an issue of national security.
The possible link between the disruption of blood bank refrigerators and the subsequent attacks shows how far the problem goes. It is possible that such acts of disruption will have an impact on the supply of foods and possibly healthcare. Consequently, cybersecurity and human security are becoming more interrelated because human security is increasingly being taken into consideration.
International Cooperation and the Question of Attribution
The reaction of France also brings up the issue of international cooperation in cyberspace. Most of the cyberattacks usually cross borders. Therefore, it becomes hard to investigate and prosecute them. The possible involvement of front organizations, like CyberAveng3rs and Cyber Isnaad Front, indicates that the attackers may work through organisations which will help them hide their true identities and affiliations.
The French government’s decision to seek out the European level of sanctions shows the importance of cooperative actions. On its own, each state may not be able to stop any of the cyber activities because the attacks may come from beyond the jurisdiction of the state.
However, attribution requires the existence of credible evidence. Cyber attacks may be conducted using compromised hardware and deceptive digital infrastructure, which makes establishing responsibility impossible. Diplomacy and sanctions should be based on open evaluations and careful investigation, accordingly.
Conclusion
The cyberattack by Iran against supermarkets in France shows an important change in international security nowadays, namely, that the battlefield is not confined to geographic territory and military facilities. Digital infrastructure ensuring the functioning of food supply, healthcare services, and commerce can be targeted during geopolitical rivalry.
The task of France and other countries of Europe is to find ways to protect their civilian infrastructure and implement a deterrent system to discourage cyberattacks. This case shows that cyberattacks can have real effects on the lives of ordinary people, despite there being no actual military confrontation.
Overall, this incident stresses the importance of cybersecurity as an important aspect of national security. Nowadays, the ability to secure ordinary infrastructure is as important as the ability to protect the country’s borders.
Anjali Singh is a postgraduate student of Political Science and International Relations, a Social Media Analyst, and a former Research Intern at the Indian Council of World Affairs. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Archita Gaur 
Aayush Pal