Israel Deploys “New, Classified” AI Platform to Track and Target Senior Iranian Officials Amid Escalating Conflict

The AI system is designed to scan massive volumes of data collected from Iran and identify patterns in the movements and behaviour of top leaders, allowing intelligence agencies to pinpoint targets with precision. Israeli officials state that the platform sifts through vast datasets to uncover patterns and clues that would otherwise remain undetected.

Despite more than a month of full-blown war, Iran appears to be holding its ground while becoming increasingly cautious about surveillance by Israeli intelligence agencies. Tehran moved to limit exposure by cracking down on cellphone use among security guards last year. While these restrictions slowed intelligence gathering, the impact was only temporary.

Even under restrictions, vulnerabilities persisted. “You will go check your phone” the minute your shift ends, one official told the outlet, adding, “Nobody can live in a bubble.” These breaches, though small individually, gained significance when combined with the analytical capabilities of the AI system.

According to Raz Zimmt, director of Iran research at the Institute for National Security Studies and a former member of IDF units including Unit 8200, AI advances have “provided Israel with a way to take advantage of data that was always available but was previously impossible to process.”

The effectiveness of these capabilities first became visible during last year’s 12-day military campaign, when the United States and Israel conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Alongside infrastructure attacks, Israeli forces executed coordinated operations targeting top military figures.

One such operation on June 13 led to the death of Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who headed the IRGC’s aerospace force. A former senior Israeli military officer stated that his movement from one location to another was detected mid-operation, enabling the strike.

However, the system is not without flaws. In early March, Israel carried out a strike on a key site in Qom linked to Iran’s Assembly of Experts, anticipating the physical presence of members for a meeting on succession planning. Although the structure was hit, those expected to attend were not harmed, as the meeting had shifted online.

These developments underscore the grow

ing role of advanced artificial intelligence in modern warfare, where vast data processing capabilities can shape intelligence outcomes, yet remain susceptible to critical gaps that influence operational success.