Anonymous Hits Syrian Defense Ministry Site

Anonymous turned its rage on a worthy target last night, hacking the Syrian Ministry of Defense website. The site is currently down entirely, but the Atlantic reports that Anonymous originally replaced it with an image of the group's logo on a Syrian flag backdrop and a message urging soldiers to defect. “You are responsible for protecting the Syrian people,” the message read in Arabic and English, “and anyone who orders you to kill women, children, and the elderly deserves to be tried for treason.”

“No outside enemy could do as much damage to Syria as Bashar Al-Assad has done,” it continued. “Defend your country—rise up against the regime!” Links at the bottom of the page directed readers to places like Amnesty International, Al Jazeera’s Syria live blog, and the Syrian Uprising Facebook page. The top of the page eventually filled with links to YouTube videos, some depicting the horrors of the crackdown, others showing soldiers declaring their defection. (Click to read about another recent—and more local—Anonymous hack.)