The latest bout of fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran has seen AI deployed as never before to sift intelligence and select targets, although the technology's use in war remains hotly debated.

Different forms of artificial intelligence have reportedly been used to guide the Israeli campaign in Gaza and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in an American raid.

And experts believe the technology has helped select targets for the thousands of US and Israeli strikes on Iran since February 28 -- although exact uses have yet to be confirmed.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Friday it has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to Israel of munitions and munitions support for $151.8 million, without congressional review.

Israel has requested to buy 12,000 BLU-110A/B general purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies, the State Department said in a statement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency existed that required the immediate sale to Israel. The announcement comes during the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran.

A Pakistani man with alleged ties to Iran was found guilty Friday of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump or other US officials in retaliation for the American military killing of Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani, prosecutors said.

Asif Raza Merchant allegedly sought to hire a hitman to assassinate a politician or a government official in the United States, prosecutors established during the trial in a federal court in Brooklyn.

March 6 (Reuters) - Iran's U.N. ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on Friday said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians had lost their lives so far in the conflict with Israel and the United States and thousands more had been injured.

He made his comments while speaking to reporters at the United Nations in New York.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh;Editing by David Ljunggren)

PARIS, March 6 (Reuters) - European Union member states that jointhe U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran would become "legitimate targets" for Iran, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview with TV station France 24.

"Any country that joins in the aggression against Iran, joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, definitely, they will be also legitimate targets for Iran retaliation," Takht-Ravanchi said.

March 6 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Iran's strikes on the kingdom amid a sprawling conflict in the region, Downing Street said in a statement on Friday.

"Additional British fighter jets, helicopters and a destroyer were being sent to the region, and the UK stood ready to support the defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should it be needed," Starmer told bin Salman.

The two leaders also discussed greater intelligence cooperation in support of defensive operations and civilians.

March 6 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday filed two civil forfeiture complaints for more than $15.3 million used to allegedly fund an illicit Iranian oil distribution network, the Justice Department said in a statement.

The complaints by the Justice Department allege that the funds were being used by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani to "operate multiple distribution companies" engaged in selling and shipping Iranian oil and other commodities in violation of U.S. sanctions.

US President Donald Trump is to attend the dignified transfer on Saturday of six soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait, the White House said Friday, as the escalating war with Tehran brings home its first American dead.

The troops were killed Sunday when a drone struck a key US command center in Kuwait's southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran.

By Laila Bassam, Maya Gebeily and Maayan Lubell

BEIRUT, March 5 (Reuters) - Lebanese armed group Hezbollah spent months restocking its arsenal of rockets and drones, using support from Iran and its own weapons factories to prepare for a new war with Israel, six sources familiar with the group's preparations said.

Down but not out after its devastating 2024 conflict with Israel, Hezbollah had concluded that another round of fighting was inevitable - and that this time, it could face an existential threat, according to the sources.

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The United States is well on its way toward controlling Iranian airspace, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Friday, adding that Washington expects the achievable U.S. objectives to be completed in four to six weeks.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Leavitt also said Washington was looking at potential candidates to lead Iran, a day after President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview that the United States must be involved in choosing the next leader of Iran.