Use of artificial intelligence in US and Israeli military operations

On February 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli forces conducted a large-scale aerial operation in Iran, striking over 1,000 targets within a 24-hour period. According to the Pentagon, the operation achieved high precision, with reports indicating that artificial intelligence was utilized to analyze data and significantly shorten the target engagement cycle, known as the 'kill chain.' The Washington Post reported that AI systems were used to instantly identify and prioritize these targets. This event follows previous reported deployments of AI in warfare, such as the Israeli system Lavender. Investigations by +972 Magazine and Local Call in early 2024 revealed that Lavender processed data on 2.3 million residents in Gaza to identify potential targets. The system reportedly categorized 37,000 individuals as targets based on machine learning algorithms. Critics and internal sources noted that the broad definition of Hamas militants used by the system extended to civil defense workers. These developments highlight an increasing reliance on automated data analysis in modern military conflict.