Iran built a vast camera network to control dissent. Israel used it to track targets, AP sources say
Israel’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows how surveillance systems are increasingly targeted in wartime. Hundreds of millions of cameras worldwide, often internet-connected and poorly secured, can be exploited as artificial intelligence allows militaries to sift through footage and identify targets.
On Feb. 28, Israel used Tehran’s cameras to track Khamenei despite repeated warnings the systems were compromised, according to interviews and an Associated Press review of leaked data, statements, and reports. Two people familiar with the operation said hacked cameras were among the intelligence used.
Iran installed tens of thousands of cameras in Tehran to monitor protests, including after a deadly January crackdown. The systems’ vulnerabilities were well known, with repeated hacks since 2021 and public warnings from Iranian officials about Israeli access.
Cybersecurity experts have long warned cameras could be weaponized. In 2019, engineer Paul Marrapese showed millions could be hacked, and scans this year found nearly three million exposed feeds worldwide, including about 2,000 in Iran. Many lack basic protections, and even closed networks can be compromised by insiders.
What was once theoretical has become reality. Hamas hacked Israeli cameras before its Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, and Russia has targeted cameras in Ukraine. AI now allows near real-time identification of people and vehicles, said security expert Bruce Schneier.
Iran’s systems have been repeatedly breached. Hackers leaked footage from Evin prison in 2021 and accessed thousands of cameras in 2022. During last summer’s 12-day war, Israel used Tehran cameras to track and strike a meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, injuring President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian officials and an Israeli documentary. Iranian lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian later warned Israel effectively had access to the country’s cameras.
Surveillance has expanded alongside unrest, with cameras used for facial recognition to enforce laws such as mandatory hijab rules. Reliance on older, often pirated systems due to sanctions makes Iran more vulnerable, researchers say.
A person briefed on the operation said Israel had hacked most of Tehran’s traffic cameras for years, feeding data to its servers and mapping movements, addresses, and security details. The Khamenei operation was planned for months and accelerated once his presence at a leadership compound was confirmed. Former Shin Bet official Amit Assa said cameras are critical in confirming targets alongside other intelligence.
Camera hacking is rising across the region. Check Point Research reports increased Iranian activity targeting cameras in Israel and Gulf states, potentially to monitor targets and assess strike damage. With more than one billion cameras installed globally, coverage continues to expand.
Experts say governments are only beginning to grasp the risks. Gulf states have restricted filming of strikes to prevent adversaries from using footage. Israel’s National Cyber Directorate has warned camera owners to improve security.
