TEHRAN, Iran, (AP) – A state-owned Iranian newspaper says hackers working for the Revolutionary Guards’ paramilitary Basij group have launched attacks on websites of “enemies” of Iran.

The IRAN paper quoted acting commander Gen. Ali Fazli of the Basij as saying Iran’s cyber army is made up of university teachers, students and clerics. Monday’s report was a rare acknowledgment from Iran that it’s involved in cyber warfare.

Iran announced in January its first cyber police unit, an attempt by authorities to gain an edge in the digital world.

The Internet has been a key outlet for Iran’s opposition since the 2009 disputed presidential election. Iran also has been trying to boost its web defenses after the Stuxnet computer worm made its way into computers involved with its nuclear program.