The US Department of State has been hit by a cyberattack, with the Department of Defence Cyber Command suggesting a "possible serious breach", media reports indicated on Saturday.
"The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to ensure information is protected. For security reasons, we are not in a position to discuss the nature or scope of any alleged cybersecurity incidents at this time", a Fox News reporter tweeted, citing a State Department spokesperson.
A source familiar with the matter reportedly told Fox News that the breach did not affect the evacuation of people from Afghanistan, which is taking place amid America's hasty and chaotic withdrawal from the country.
The United States has been targeted by a significant number of cyberattacks in recent years, mainly aimed at government agencies and businesses. Both Democrats and Republicans alike have mostly blamed the attacks on Russia and China, even though no proof has been provided to substantiate the claims of their involvement.
In April, Biden imposed a range of retaliatory measures against Russia for alleged election interference and malicious cyberactivity, including last year's SolarWinds attack. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations as lacking any evidence.