Iran's targeting of US bases may have used Russian spy satellite imagery - report

Iranian drone and missile attacks on US bases in the region during Operation Epic Fury might have been aided by Russian spy satellites, CNN reported on Wednesday.

The report, which cited two US officials, said these satellites may have passed information to Tehran after flying over areas with a US military presence, such as Prince Sultan Air Base, which was struck by Iran on March 27.

According to the report, Russian satellites played a "vital role" in the Prince Sultan Air Base attack, which injured 12 US soldiers.

CNN analyzed the tracking data of the satellites in question, revealing that they passed over targeted areas just prior to Iranian operations against said targets.

The satellites included those used for detailed imagery, all-weather radio signal detection, infrared imaging, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which is used to locate high-value targets.

According to CNN, one of these high-value targets was a US Air Force Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which was destroyed during Iran's attack on Prince Sultan Air Base.

The report noted the accuracy of such strikes as evidence of Iran's use of Russian satellites, saying that the precision would be impossible without them.

Other targets in question by the report include a CIA facility within the US embassy complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Iran's use of Russia's satellites 'monumental,' Saudi expert says

Saudi expert Dr. Nawaf Obaid told CNN that Russia's capabilities used by the Iranians are the reason for the state of the US-Iran conflict as it stands today.

He noted that Russia's reasoning for helping Iran is due to the US similarly assisting Ukraine in its efforts to strike Russian targets.

"This is Russian payback with interest," said Obaid. "It's monumental in terms of the consequences of what this has done, not just to the US's standing in the region, but to the security architecture of the region going forward."