Russia helped Iran strike the US in its most vulnerable spot

A CNN investigation suggests possible Russian involvement in preparing the Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 27. Two days before the attack, 14 Russian reconnaissance satellites passed over the base. As a result of the strike, the US lost a rare Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) reconnaissance aircraft. There is no direct evidence of coordinates being passed to Iran.

A CNN investigation points to possible Russian involvement in preparing one of the most precise and painful Iranian strikes against US forces in the Middle East. According to the network's data, Russian reconnaissance satellites monitored Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia shortly before Iran attacked the facility with missiles and drones on March 27. Two days before the attack, 14 Russian satellites passed over the base area. Their orbits allowed them to gather information about the facility, equipment placement, and changes on the ground. US officials believe the obtained information could have helped Iran improve strike accuracy, though there is no direct evidence of coordinates being passed. One of the costliest losses was a Boeing E-3 Sentry, an AWACS long-range radar surveillance and control aircraft. Photos after the attack showed the aircraft almost completely destroyed. In addition to the E-3, US KC-135 refueling aircraft were also damaged. Initially, ten service members were reported wounded, two of them seriously. Suspicions of Russian assistance arose immediately after the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a Russian satellite photographed the base on March 20, 23, and 25. The new investigation links this to broader reconnaissance activity. If the assessments are confirmed, it would mean Moscow and Tehran's cooperation has gone beyond arms supplies.