Did China help Iran target US base in Jordan?
What's the story
Iran is said to have used high-resolution satellite images from China before a deadly missile strike on a US military base in Jordan. The attack, which took place on July 17, killed three American soldiers. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that US officials linked the information to the attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in northeastern Jordan.
Sanctions
Satellite imagery linked to sanctioned Chinese firms
The WSJ report indicates that the satellite imagery was provided by Chinese firms already facing US sanctions.
However, it does not directly implicate the Chinese government in the attack.
The revelation comes at a sensitive time for US-China relations, with President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to meet on September 24.
Strategic advantage
US warned China about potential risks
US officials had warned their Chinese counterparts for months about the provision of satellite imagery by Chinese companies to Iran.
The information was capable of being used to target American forces and facilities in the region.
The report notes that this high-resolution imagery was particularly important for Tehran, as previous US strikes had damaged Iranian radar, satellites, and other surveillance equipment.
Tactical evolution
Iran's targeting capabilities improved over time
Initially, Iran had trouble identifying high-value US targets and often attacked less strategically important locations. However, the targeting appeared to improve over the summer.
Just three days after the July 17 strike, Iran released high-resolution images showing damage across three areas of the Jordanian base.
An analysis found that over 20 facilities had been damaged in those areas.
Attack details
Muwaffaq Salti strike killed 3 US soldiers
The Muwaffaq Salti strike was one of three separate missile attacks on the base in 24 hours.
Iranian ballistic missiles hit an area where US troops were sleeping, killing three soldiers and injuring four others.
These attacks also targeted manned and unmanned aircraft at the facility.
This was the first Iranian attack to kill US troops since an April ceasefire, highlighting the difficulty of protecting American personnel even at a heavily fortified military installation.
Rising threats
Concerns over Chinese technology aiding Iran against US
US officials have expressed concerns that Chinese technology and data could be helping Iran improve its ability to track American naval assets.
In recent days, Iran has fired ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and other warships.
Though US Central Command said these attacks failed, some missiles were said to have come close to their intended targets, raising fears about Tehran's improving strike capabilities against moving vessels.