Iran is employing Chinese satellite technology to strike U.S. military installations in the Middle East with precision, a former UK intelligence officer has stated. Beijing is allegedly orchestrating these attacks, acting as a proxy in a conflict that could reshape regional security dynamics and influence the balance of power in the Pacific, according to sources.
The conflict has resulted in the destruction of billions of pounds worth of U.S. military hardware and the deaths of at least 16 American soldiers. The vulnerability of U.S. 'forward airfields,' including those in Guam, is being exposed by these strikes. On Saturday, two U.S. personnel were killed in an attack on Muwaffaq Air Base in Jordan. On the same night, Iranian missiles also impacted U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
Figures from May indicated that at least 228 U.S. military structures had been hit since the conflict began, a number likely to be higher. This inventory includes fighter jets, intelligence-gathering aircraft, and critical radar, communication, and air defense systems.
Philip Ingram, a former UK military intelligence officer, asserted that China is testing its military capabilities against the U.S. whenever possible. He suggested that providing intelligence and targeting support to Iran, as well as to Russia, allows China to refine its targeting and military technology through proxies. "China is getting stronger as the U.S. depletes its weapons stock and gets weaker," Ingram stated.
Iran has reportedly been using a Chinese-built TEE-01B satellite, which offers high-resolution imagery, in collaboration with a Beijing-based technology company. Officially, China denies providing direct military assistance to Iran. Previously, Russia was thought to be the source of the 'Imagery Intelligence' enabling Iran's precise targeting of U.S. bases.
Iran's attacks on Jordan continued on Sunday, with three missiles intercepted and a fourth falling in a remote area. Sirens were heard in the capital, Amman, as Iranian missiles also targeted the port city of Aqaba. Kuwait reported that Iran had targeted a water distillation plant for a second time.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is investigating reports of an attack on the construction site for a planned Iranian nuclear power station. The agency last inspected the site when no nuclear material was present.
Meanwhile, Qatar and Iraq are reportedly engaged in mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global trade, remains closed amid the ongoing hostilities.