In an unusual blend of technology, symbolism, and geopolitical messaging, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press office released a short AI-generated video on Instagram on December 24, depicting Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump piloting an aircraft strikingly similar to the B-2 stealth bomber that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025. The brief, yet potent, clip has quickly drawn global attention for its imagery, timing, and the strategic narrative it conveys.
The video opens with an aerial shot of a stealth bomber soaring over a barren desert, likely intended to evoke the Middle Eastern terrain where key military operations have taken place. Subtly overlaid in the corner is the official Israeli Prime Minister’s Press Office (GPO) emblem, signaling the video’s official sanction. Within seconds, the footage zooms in on the bomber’s cockpit, where Trump is depicted as the pilot and Netanyahu as the co-pilot, both sporting aviator-style sunglasses reminiscent of cinematic action heroes. They exchange confident, almost smug glances as the camera lingers on them. The clip has no dialogue or background score, relying solely on the deep, resonant roar of the aircraft’s engines to punctuate the scene. The entire sequence lasts roughly six to seven seconds.
Accompanying the post is the caption: “Our victory lap. #sixmonths.” Analysts suggest the timing of the video, six months after the US B-2 bombers carried out a precision strike against Iran’s nuclear sites, is intentional. It serves both as a reminder of the successful operation and as a strategic message aimed at Tehran, which has vowed to continue strengthening its missile capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions.
The historical context behind the video is significant. On June 22, 2025, in what was dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” seven US B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri executed a highly coordinated attack on Iran’s Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant and the Natanz Nuclear Facility. A comparable number of bombers were sent to Guam as decoys to mislead Iranian defenses. The mission involved more than 125 aircraft, supported by F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters providing air superiority and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD).
Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet later highlighted the operation’s technological sophistication, stating, “Our platforms operated essentially undetected in highly defended and contested airspace, underscoring the value of advanced stealth, superior electronic warfare, and broadband communications capability.” Confirming these details, the US Air Force emphasized the F-35’s crucial role in disabling Iranian air defense systems, enabling the B-2 bombers to strike Iran’s deeply buried nuclear facilities with 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators.
Complementing the aerial strikes, a US Navy submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles targeting infrastructure at Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility. Collectively, these operations effectively ended the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran, a conflict that had erupted on June 12, 2025, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated “Operation Rising Lion.” That campaign targeted Iranian nuclear sites, military infrastructure, and key Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) personnel, including top nuclear scientists.
Netanyahu, in announcing the campaign, had projected confidence that Israel’s military superiority would compel Tehran to surrender immediately. However, Iran mounted a resilient response, launching missile and drone attacks against Israel, some of which penetrated the nation’s sophisticated air defense systems. The resulting stalemate persisted until the decisive B-2 strikes led to a US-brokered ceasefire, announced by Trump on the evening of June 23, 2025. The ceasefire, mediated jointly by Washington and Qatar, took effect the following morning despite initial violations but eventually held firm under US pressure.
Even post-ceasefire, tensions remained high. Iran executed a symbolic missile strike against a US base in Qatar, causing minimal damage and no casualties. Israel justified its preemptive military operations by emphasizing the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting that neutralizing uranium enrichment facilities, ballistic missile programs, and IRGC leadership was necessary to prevent an existential threat to the Jewish state.
In this context, the AI-generated video appears to function as a multi-layered message. At a surface level, it signals Israel’s continued military readiness and its close partnership with the United States. More broadly, it underscores the technological and strategic edge enjoyed by the US-Israel alliance, particularly in aerial warfare capabilities. The video also subtly highlights the evolution of warfare communications, where AI-generated content is now being used for strategic messaging in addition to traditional military channels.
Israel’s air power played a decisive role in both Operation Rising Lion and the subsequent American-led strikes. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) inventory, exclusively composed of American-designed and manufactured aircraft, has been central to the nation’s recent military successes. Notably, the F-35I Adir—the most advanced export variant of the F-35—features bespoke electronic warfare and systems integration capabilities, giving Israel a technological edge in combat operations. Additionally, the IAF operates a fleet of F-15 and F-16 fighters, which have been consistently used in military campaigns against Iran, Gaza, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
During Operation Rising Lion, over 200 Israeli fighter jets were deployed in the opening waves, striking roughly 100 targets across Iran with more than 330 munitions. The F-35s conducted initial penetrations to suppress Iranian air defenses, enabling F-15s and F-16s to carry out precision strikes on missile launchers, production facilities, and other critical infrastructure. Israel was the first country outside the US to operate the F-35 in combat, and it has already ordered the F-15EX—the latest variant of the F-15 Eagle—becoming the only export customer for the platform.
The AI video, therefore, serves as a symbolic “victory lap,” reminding observers of the operational synergy between the US and Israel. It also acts as a subtle projection of deterrence toward Iran, emphasizing the combined technological and strategic capabilities at the disposal of the alliance. Analysts suggest that this form of messaging reflects a broader trend in which governments are using AI-generated media not just for public engagement, but also as a psychological tool in geopolitical strategy.
Moreover, the choice to depict Trump and Netanyahu in the cockpit of a B-2 stealth bomber is loaded with symbolism. It reinforces the narrative that decisive action in the Middle East requires both political will and technological superiority. The clip’s timing, exactly six months after the strikes, coupled with the hashtag “#sixmonths,” reinforces the notion of continued vigilance and the lasting impact of the military operations.
The release has sparked mixed reactions internationally. Pro-Israel and US-aligned commentators hailed the video as a bold and creative demonstration of military strength and the enduring partnership between Washington and Jerusalem. Critics, however, have warned that such imagery risks escalating tensions in the region, particularly as Iran continues to expand its missile program and enhance its defensive capabilities.
In the broader context of Middle Eastern geopolitics, the video exemplifies how modern warfare is not solely confined to kinetic operations but also involves narrative control, public perception, and digital messaging. As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, its use in military and strategic communications is likely to grow, raising questions about the ethical and diplomatic implications of such campaigns.
Netanyahu’s AI-generated “victory lap” video with Trump is a striking fusion of technology, symbolism, and geopolitical messaging. It commemorates the US-led B-2 strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, reinforces the strength of the US-Israel military alliance, and subtly conveys a warning to Tehran. While brief, the clip encapsulates months of strategic planning, technological innovation, and political messaging, reflecting a new era in which AI-generated media intersects with global security dynamics. For Israel and the United States, it is both a celebration of past military success and a signal of continued vigilance in a region where the balance of power remains fragile and highly contested.
