Iran used Chinese-built spy satellite to target US basestarget US bases in Middle East war
A Financial Times investigation revealed that Iran secretly acquired the Chinese-built TEE-01B spy satellite in late 2024 after its launch from China. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Aerospace Force used it to monitor and image US military bases across the Middle East, including sites in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Djibouti, before and after drone and missile strikes in March 2026. Leaked Iranian documents, satellite imagery, and orbital data confirmed the satellite's role in these attacks.
This development marks a major upgrade in Iran's strike precision, surpassing its domestic satellite capabilities with half-meter resolution imagery. It raises concerns about China's indirect involvement in the recent Middle East war through commercial satellite transfers and ground station access. The findings could strain US-China relations and prompt regional allies to reassess security risks.
- **IRGC** founded in 1979 to safeguard Iran's Islamic Revolution from internal threats.
- **Djibouti** hosts Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. military's only permanent base in Africa.
- **Bahrain** is home to U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters, overseeing naval operations in the Middle East.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
