One of the most heartbreaking scenes from the recent conflict with Iran emerged from the ruins of a primary school.

On February 28, 2026, during the opening hours of the U.S.–Israel air campaign against Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury,” a Tomahawk cruise missile struck the Shajare Tayyebe primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab.

According to Iranian officials, around 175 people were killed, including more than 100 children. Most of the victims were girls between the ages of seven and twelve.

Reports suggested that the school was located in the same block as buildings used by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Navy. However, the school had long operated independently with its own walls and entrances separating it from the military compound.

Some defense experts believe the tragedy may have been caused by outdated intelligence data. Years earlier, the land where the school stood had reportedly been part of a military compound. When historical intelligence data was later analyzed using artificial intelligence systems, the location may have been incorrectly identified as a military target.

Whether or not AI directly influenced the strike, the incident highlights a growing concern surrounding the role of AI in modern warfare and the risks that arise when automated intelligence systems influence battlefield decisions.

The Growing Role of AI in Modern Warfare

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a central component of modern military intelligence systems. Governments are investing heavily in AI driven platforms capable of analyzing massive volumes of information collected from surveillance networks, communications systems, and historical intelligence archives.

The scale of this investment reflects how quickly the technology is being integrated into national defense strategies. According to Grand View Research, the market for artificial intelligence in military applications was valued at about $9.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $19 billion by 2030.

Modern intelligence platforms analyze information from multiple sources simultaneously.

• Satellite imagery

High resolution satellites capture detailed images of terrain, infrastructure, and vehicle movement across large geographic regions. AI models can analyze these images to detect patterns such as new construction, unusual activity around sensitive facilities, or changes in infrastructure that may indicate military use.

Programs like the Pentagon’s Project Maven use artificial intelligence to analyze drone and satellite imagery, significantly reducing the time required to identify potential targets.

• Drone surveillance feeds

Unmanned aerial vehicles generate continuous video footage from conflict zones. AI powered computer vision systems can analyze these feeds in real time, identifying vehicles, weapons systems, and personnel movement.

Drones have already become one of the most influential technologies on modern battlefields. Analysts studying the Russia–Ukraine war estimate that drones account for roughly 70 to 80 percent of battlefield casualties, demonstrating how AI assisted systems are reshaping modern combat.

• Communications intercepts

Military intelligence agencies monitor various communication signals including phone calls, radio transmissions, and encrypted digital messages. AI systems can process large volumes of these communications to identify patterns, detect networks of individuals, and map potential command structures.

• Historical intelligence databases

Intelligence agencies maintain decades of surveillance records and operational reports. AI models can analyze these historical datasets to identify long term trends or previously known military infrastructure.

However, reliance on historical intelligence data can also introduce risks if the information is outdated.

• Open source digital data

A growing share of intelligence now comes from publicly available sources online. Social media posts, videos, news reports, and commercial satellite imagery can provide valuable signals about activity in conflict zones.

AI systems can scan massive volumes of this open source data across multiple languages, helping analysts detect unusual patterns or emerging threats.

Together, these capabilities allow AI in modern warfare to process intelligence at speeds that were previously impossible.

How AI Is Accelerating Battlefield Decisions

AI assisted intelligence systems are helping militaries perform several critical tasks more quickly and efficiently.

• Identifying targets faster

Machine learning models trained on satellite imagery and surveillance data can detect patterns associated with military infrastructure. These systems can flag suspicious locations such as radar installations, weapons depots, or unusual vehicle concentrations.

Instead of analysts manually reviewing thousands of images, AI can highlight potential targets within seconds.

• Analyzing communications networks

AI tools can process enormous volumes of intercepted communications and analyze relationships between individuals. By mapping connections and identifying patterns of coordination, these systems help intelligence agencies uncover hidden networks and operational hierarchies.

• Predicting enemy movement patterns

By analyzing historical logistics data alongside real time intelligence feeds, AI models can detect patterns in troop movements, supply routes, and transportation activity. These insights help analysts anticipate potential military actions.

• Processing battlefield intelligence in real time

Modern conflicts generate enormous volumes of data from drones, satellites, sensors, and surveillance systems. AI platforms can combine these inputs to create a near real time operational picture of the battlefield.

Ukraine has even begun sharing millions of annotated battlefield images from drone flights to train AI systems, illustrating how critical data driven warfare has become, according to Reuters.

• Coordinating complex multi domain operations

Large military operations often involve coordination between air forces, naval fleets, ground troops, cyber teams, and intelligence agencies. AI assisted planning systems can simulate different operational scenarios and help commanders evaluate strategies across multiple domains.

The increasing use of AI in modern warfare dramatically accelerates the speed at which intelligence can be analyzed and decisions can be made.

When Data Is Wrong, AI Is Wrong

Despite its capabilities, artificial intelligence systems remain heavily dependent on the quality of the data they receive.

Engineers often describe this challenge using a simple phrase: Garbage In, Garbage Out.

If an AI system receives flawed, incomplete, or outdated information, the conclusions it produces may also be incorrect.

Experts believe this principle may explain incidents like the Minab school tragedy. If historical intelligence records still identified the site as part of a military compound, AI assisted targeting systems may have interpreted the location as a legitimate objective.

In such cases, the technology itself may function exactly as designed, but the intelligence guiding it may be fundamentally wrong.

Technology Companies and the Military

The rise of AI in modern warfare has also created new tensions between governments and technology companies.

AI companies are increasingly being drawn into defense partnerships as governments seek access to advanced machine learning models.

For example, the AI company Anthropic reportedly received a $200 million contract from U.S. defense agencies to expand collaboration on AI technologies.

However, the company also stated that its AI models should not be used for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance.

This stance has sparked debate about whether private technology companies should be able to restrict how governments use their technology for national security purposes.

In response, government officials have argued that national security decisions ultimately cannot be constrained by corporate policies.

Reports also suggest that tensions between defense agencies and AI companies are increasing as governments push for broader access to advanced AI capabilities.

At the same time, other technology companies including OpenAI and xAI have signaled greater willingness to work with defense agencies, reflecting a growing alignment between the technology sector and national security priorities.

As a result, legal and policy conflicts between governments and AI developers are beginning to emerge, raising important questions about how military AI technologies should be governed.

The Global Race for Military AI

The increasing use of artificial intelligence in defense systems is also fueling a global technological competition.

The broader AI in the military market is expected to exceed $35 billion within the next decade (Precedence Research), as governments around the world race to develop advanced AI enabled military capabilities.

Countries including the United States, China, Russia, and members of NATO are investing heavily in autonomous drones, AI driven surveillance systems, and algorithm assisted command platforms.

As these technologies continue to evolve, the global race to develop more advanced military AI systems is likely to intensify.

AI and the Rise of Information Warfare

Artificial intelligence is not only transforming physical battlefields but also the digital information environment.

AI generated images, videos, and audio recordings can now be produced and distributed within minutes. During conflicts, manipulated media can spread rapidly across social platforms, shaping public perception before fact checking organizations have time to verify the truth.

This has created a new dimension of modern conflict often described as information warfare, where narratives and misinformation can influence public opinion as much as military operations themselves.

A Warning From the Ruins

The destruction of the school in Minab offers a sobering reminder of the risks that accompany powerful new technologies.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to transform military strategy, intelligence gathering, and battlefield decision making. Yet the growing influence of AI in modern warfare also highlights the importance of human oversight, ethical governance, and careful validation of intelligence data.

No matter how advanced machines become, the consequences of automated decisions can still be devastating when the underlying information is flawed.

Technology may enhance human capability.

But it cannot replace human responsibility.