Iran used Chinese-sourced satellite images to target US bases, intelligence reveals - report

Iran acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of a US base in Jordan from Chinese sources before conducting a missile attack that killed three American soldiers in July, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. US officials cited in the report stated that Iran obtained the images both prior to and following the assault, though they did not name the specific Chinese firms involved or accuse Beijing's government of direct involvement.

The strike occurred at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in northeastern Jordan, where three soldiers were killed and four others were wounded. Iran subsequently published detailed images documenting the damage, which were more detailed than commercial satellite imagery previously reviewed by the WSJ. Diplomatic tensions ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping prompted senior US figures to raise the imagery findings with Chinese counterparts, who demanded evidence and rejected the allegations.

Beijing has denied supplying such material to Iran. The US has sanctioned three Chinese companies over allegations of providing satellite imagery usable by Iran against US forces.