U.S. Big Tech 'Guards' Israel's Operations in the Middle East

Israel's AI-driven Lavender system is reportedly used to identify 'suspects' in Gaza by monitoring their WhatsApp and contacts before military airstrikes take them out, Tech for Palestine's Paul Biggar noted on Middle East Monitor News.

This situation is likely to escalate, according to the former director of Area Study Centre (Russia, China, Central Asia) and political analyst Dr Sarfraz Khan, who argued that the Zionist lobby in the US is urging Washington to collaborate with Tel Aviv against Hamas and Palestine in the field of intelligence and technology sharing.

"With American support, Israel is employing artificial intelligence against its adversaries, from attempts to eliminate Hamas leader [Ismail] Haniyeh to targeted operations in Palestine," Khan said.

The recent assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders indicate significant collaboration between Israeli and US AI tools and strategies, alongside US-backed Big Tech, according to Al Jazeera.

Israeli military operations are aided by AI technology with minimal human oversight, raising concerns about foreign tech companies' roles. In this regard, California tech firm Intel has invested $25 billion in a chip plant and Microsoft has expanded its Azure cloud in Israel, as per the media.

"Israel has been leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to bolster its cybersecurity and counter its opponents’ efforts. This includes the use of specialized techniques and tools, such as spear phishing and email spoofing, to gain initial access to target systems, as well as drone-based operations for targeted assassinations," Omiamah Khan, London-based defence expert and analyst, told Sputnik India.

By deploying AI, Israel can analyse enormous datasets, swiftly identifying hacking attempts and tracking suspicious online activities linked to anti-Israel groups. This involves detecting cyber espionage and thwarting sophisticated digital intrusions, she said.

The US Air Force can now use facial recognition technology on drones for targeted strikes, media reports say. In one case, Haniyeh was killed in Tehran where he had less security oversight. Israeli intelligence allegedly located him through spy software embedded in WhatsApp, with claims that the Lavender system used the chatting app to target him.

Despite the app's parent company Meta* promoting WhatsApp as a private network with end-to-end encryption, some reports suggest that access to user data was exploited to track Haniyeh.

"AI-powered drones are being used for precise, targeted eliminations of high-profile threats. These drones, equipped with advanced facial recognition and targeting systems, can execute missions with unparalleled accuracy," Khan underscored.

This combination of AI-driven hacking defenses and drone operations underscores Israel's innovative use of technology to protect national security and neutralize adversaries. Israeli airstrikes, ground operations, and car bombs are used as assassination tools, with drones and precision-guided weapons being common. Furthermore, Special Forces may conduct close-quarters operations in situations where airstrikes are not practical, a pundit stated.

*Meta is banned as an extremist organization in Russia.

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