Two weeks after an alleged cyber attack on Qatar's state news agency resulted in the publishing of a fake news story, the Qatari-funded broadcasting company Al-Jazeera claims that the company's "websites and digital platforms" are being targeted in "systematic and continual hacking attempts." The attack comes as officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to assist the Qatari government in Doha in investigations into an April breach of systems at the Qatar National Bank, as well as the previous media breach.

The fake news story was apparently aimed at further escalating tensions in Qatar's ongoing diplomatic crisis. On Wednesday, CNN reported that unnamed US officials had linked Russian hackers to planting it. That story falsely reported comments by Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at a military graduation ceremony, saying that President Trump might not last long in office, criticizing escalation of animosity toward Iran, and praising Hezbollah and Hamas as resistance organizations.

However, multiple sources Ars has spoken with have disputed the Russia connection claim. No clear evidence has surfaced yet of who was involved, but Qatar's relationship with the US and its funding of the Al-Jazeera news service have been sources of concern for other governments in the region.

The false report further enflamed tensions between Qatar and other Gulf states (including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates). After the report was posted, the other Gulf states—along with Jordan, Egypt, and the recognized government of Libya—restricted or severed relations with Qatar. Aircraft flying into and out of Doha now have to fly into Iranian airspace to leave the Persian Gulf region.

President Trump hailed the move in a Twitter post and took credit for the split. He cited his urge to crack down on terrorist funding during his Saudi Arabian visit last month as the trigger for the collective shunning of Qatar. But Qatar is an important US ally and hosts US military forces operating in the Gulf region—including US and coalition aircraft involved in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, operating from Al Udeid Air Base. The military and intelligence ties to the country are why the FBI is now in Doha assisting in the attack investigations.

The reported attack on Al-Jazeera is apparently not a denial-of-service attack, as the company's website remains available. An Al-Jazeera spokesperson said that the company's servers had not been compromised thus far in the continuing attack. Ars will update this story as more details become available.