Iran Used Chinese Satellite Images to Strike US Base in Jordan, Killing 3 Troops: WSJ

WASHINGTON: Iran used high-resolution satellite imagery supplied by Chinese entities to help plan a July attack on a US military base in Jordan that killed three American service members, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials.

US officials told the newspaper that Iran had obtained highly detailed satellite images of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan ahead of the July 17 attack.

The Iranian strike caused significant damage to the base and resulted in the first reported US military deaths since a ceasefire in April, according to the report.

US Raises Concerns Over Iranian Targeting Capability

The incident has increased concerns in Washington that Iran is rapidly improving its ability to identify, track and strike American military installations in the region.

US officials said they had been warning for months about the availability of high-resolution commercial satellite imagery from Chinese companies that could potentially be used by Iran against US forces.

The officials did not identify the Chinese entities involved and did not suggest that the Chinese government had directly participated in the attack.

Concerns Over US Naval Assets

According to The Wall Street Journal, the US administration is also concerned that Chinese commercial satellite imagery could potentially help Iran track American naval assets.

Such imagery can provide detailed information on the location and condition of military facilities and other assets, raising concerns among US officials over the growing availability of commercially sourced intelligence.

China Rejects Allegations

Chinese officials have denied the allegations and called for evidence to support the claims, according to the report.

Beijing has previously maintained that commercial satellite imagery is provided through civilian channels and has rejected suggestions that China is directly supporting military operations against US forces.

The reported use of satellite imagery highlights the growing importance of commercial space-based intelligence in modern warfare, where high-resolution imagery can significantly improve the ability of military forces to monitor potential targets.