Russia supplies Iran with satellite data on U.S. military bases in Middle East

These include dozens of detailed images featuring 46 sites, including U.S. military bases, airports, and oil fields, the Ukrainian intelligence service told Ukrinform.

According to intelligence reports, these sites became targets of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones within days of the Russian satellite surveys.

As noted by Reuters, Western intelligence also pointed to intense activity by Russian satellites in the region. According to a Reuters source, nine Russian satellite surveys covered parts of Saudi Arabia, including five over the ⁠King Khalid Military City near Hafar Al-Batin, to locate components of the U.S.-made THAAD air defense system.

Areas of Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates were also observed by Russian satellites twice, while settlements in Israel, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, and the Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia were observed once.

In addition, according to Ukrainian intelligence and a Western military source cited by Reuters, Russia is also providing cyber assistance to Iran. Since late February, Iranian-controlled hacking groups have been attacking critical infrastructure and telecommunications companies in the Persian Gulf. Russian hacking groups Z-Pentest Alliance, NoName057(16), and DDoSia Project are communicating via Telegram with Iranian hackers from Handala Hack.

According to Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia took satellite images of a U.S. airbase in Saudi Arabia three times in the days leading up to Iran’s attack on it, which resulted in injuries to U.S. military personnel.

Zelensky claimed that Russia also provided Iran with satellite intelligence on more than 50 targets in Israel’s energy infrastructure. In this way, the Kremlin is helping Iran carry out strikes against civilian infrastructure.

Illustrative photo: AA