Last week, many residents in Qatar—including thousands of Filipinos—reported a startling anomaly: their ride-hailing and map apps suddenly showed their location as Iran, even when they were physically in Doha. Time settings on devices also shifted unexpectedly.
This digital glitch coincided with heightened regional tensions. Iran had launched missile strikes targeting the U.S. military base at Al-Udeid Air Base in Doha, prompting temporary closure of Qatar's airspace. Satellite analysts also detected unusual GPS jamming and spoofing across the Gulf since mid‑June.
These strongly suggest a GPS spoofing attack—a cyber tactic used in electronic warfare. Experts note Iran has demonstrated such capabilities in the past, especially in maritime and aviation zones.
Source: Adapted from Doha News and regional cybersecurity reports.