Pentagon confirms AI picks Iran targets as 120 members of Congress demand oversight

The U.S. military confirmed on March 12, 2026, that it uses AI-powered targeting systems, including Palantir's Maven Smart System, to identify airstrike targets in Iran. More than 120 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter demanding detailed information about civilian casualty safeguards and whether AI selected a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school. Legal experts and lawmakers raised alarm that human oversight of AI targeting decisions was insufficient, citing the system's role in selecting over 90 targets in a single Kharg Island raid.