On June 1, 2026, the Instagram account of Space Force Chief Master Sergeant John F. Bentivegna was compromised, resulting in the posting of pro-Iran propaganda. The account, which typically shares updates for the Space Force's enlisted personnel, displayed graphics calling for America's defeat in ongoing conflicts.
The breach is believed to be part of a systematic operation by hackers aligned with the Iranian regime, as similar attacks were reported on the Obama White House Instagram account. One post featured a voiceover from a historical Vietnamese radio personality, known for encouraging American troops to defect during the Vietnam War.
Another post included a video montage of Iranian official Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in March. The content also featured an artificially generated image representing a figure significant in Shiite Islam.
Chief Master Sergeant Bentivegna acknowledged the hack on Facebook, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity. The incident occurred shortly after President Donald Trump held a meeting regarding a potential deal to end the war with Iran.
In April, Navy Secretary John Phelan had warned that adversary cyber actors were targeting Navy personnel on social media. A Meta spokesperson confirmed that both the Space Force and Obama White House accounts were secured quickly, and the offensive content was removed by early June 2.