Russian Satellites May Have Helped Iran Strike U.S. Base

Russian reconnaissance satellites may have provided Iran with information used to launch precision strikes against U.S. facilities in the Middle East, including an air base in Saudi Arabia.

CNN reported this in a video investigation.

CNN journalists, together with experts from Project Aurora and Kayhan Space, analyzed the movements of Russian satellites. According to their findings, 14 Russian reconnaissance spacecraft, including Kosmos-2573, passed over Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh two days before the Iranian attack.

Kosmos-2573 collected detailed imagery. Eight spacecraft may have been capable of intercepting radar signals, two of detecting thermal emissions, and another three of using radar to observe the surface.

Two U.S. officials and other CNN sources shared that they had evidence that Iran received some of the collected data. In their view, the information helped Tehran launch at least some of its precision strikes.

On March 27, Iran attacked Prince Sultan Air Base. According to CNN, 12 U.S. service members were wounded. An E-3 Sentry airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft was also destroyed.

The network’s sources believe Russia continued to provide Iran with information to help guide strikes. Possible targets mentioned in the report include a CIA facility in the Saudi capital. At the same time, CNN noted that U.S. officials differ in their assessments of the significance of Russia’s assistance.

It was previously reported that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence to counter U.S. airstrikes and improve the accuracy of Iranian attacks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has also stated that Russia is providing Iran with satellite imagery of U.S. military facilities in the Persian Gulf region.

Read more about the Russian satellite constellation in Militarnyi’s article on the capabilities of Russia’s space reconnaissance, which examines optical and radar satellites, as well as electronic intelligence satellites.