Russian satellites helping Iran target US forces in Middle East, Ukrainian assessment finds

According to a Ukrainian intelligence assessment, Russian satellites have made dozens of detailed imagery surveys of military facilities and critical sites across the Middle East to help Iran strike US forces and other targets.The assessment also points towards Russian and Iranian hackers collaborating, representing the most detailed account yet of how Russia has provided secret support to Iran since Israel and the US launched their assault on February 28.

Satellite imagery sharing

The undated assessment said Russian satellites made at least 24 surveys of areas in 11 Middle Eastern countries from March 21 to 31, covering 46 "objects”. These objects include US and other military bases, airports and oil fields. Within days of being surveyed, these locations were targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, the assessment said, describing a clear pattern.A Western military source and a separate regional security source reported intense Russian satellite activity to Reuters. They also indicated that imagery had been shared with Iran.In a separate exclusive interview with NBC News on March 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was "100%" confident Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran to target US forces.

According to The Wall Street Journal’s reporting, the assistance Russia is providing is similar to intelligence the US and European allies have given to Ukraine in recent years. Satellite images can provide more granularity about the details and movements of both land-based and sea-based targets, helping targeting before strikes as well as damage assessment following a hit.

Specific targets identified

Nine surveys covered parts of Saudi Arabia, including five over the King Khalid Military City near Hafar Al-Batin.

The Ukrainian assessment alleges that this is being carried out in an effort to locate elements of THAAD air defence system.Russian satellites are also said to be actively surveying the Strait of Hormuz. Apart from that, areas of Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have come under satellite surveillance twice, while sites in Israel, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia were surveyed once.The Ukrainian assessment said the exchange of satellite imagery was being organised through a permanent communications channel used by Russia and Iran and could also be facilitated by Russian military spies stationed in Tehran.The regional security source of Reuters also confirmed a specific incident detailed in the assessment that was disclosed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week: a Russian satellite took imagery of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia days before Iran struck the facility on March 27, hitting a sophisticated US E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.

A Russian satellite passed over the same site on March 28 to assess the strike's impact, the assessment said.

Comprehensive strategic partnership

Russia and Iran have deepened military ties since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January last year. Article Four of the treaty states that "in order to strengthen national security and counter common threats, the intelligence and security services of the contracting parties exchange information and experience.

"Since last February, Iranian hacking groups have increased operations, targeting mainly critical infrastructure and telecommunications companies in the Gulf, something the assessment claims could be due to Russian assistance.The assessment said Russian and Iranian hacker groups were interacting via Telegram and noted collaboration between Russian groups "Z-Pentest Alliance", "NoName057(16)" and "DDoSia Project" and Iran's "Handala Hack."Last month, groups including Handala Hack published a warning on Telegram about attacks on information and communication systems of Israeli energy companies, the assessment said. Russian groups simultaneously published access credentials to control systems at critical infrastructure facilities in Israel.Iranian hacker groups have also used techniques that indicated they had obtained them from Russian military intelligence hackers, the assessment said. For instance, Iranian hacker groups "Homeland Justice" (UAC-0074) and "Karmabelow80" used ProfitServer, a Russian VPS provider from Chelyabinsk, to register domains, Reuters reported

US, Russia, and Iran respond

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said no external support for Iran from any country was affecting the operational success of the United States. The Iranian foreign ministry had no immediate comment. Russia's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.