Chinese satellites are being 'used by Iran to hit American bases in the Middle East'

Published: 00:45, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 00:46, 20 July 2026 Iran is using Chinese satellite technology to target sensitive US military sites with precision accuracy, the Daily Mail has learned. Beijing is orchestrating a proxy war by targeting deadly strikes on US bases throughout the Middle East, a former UK intelligence officer revealed. China's involvement in the US-Iran conflict threatens to redraw the security map in the region and could alter the security balance in the Pacific, sources say. That is because with every successful Iranian strike, the Communist state is learning how to penetrate US defences. The conflict in the Middle East – which has destroyed US hardware worth billions of pounds and killed 16 American soldiers – is exposing the vulnerability of US 'forward airfields' in locations such as Guam in the Pacific. Two US personnel died on Saturday in an attack on the Muwaffaq air base in Jordan, while on the same night Iranian missiles struck other US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Figures in May revealed at least 228 US military structures had been hit since the conflict began – and the figure is likely to be much higher on Monday. That decimated inventory includes fighter jets, intelligence-gathering aircraft and key radar, communications and air defence equipment. Philip Ingram, a former UK military intelligence officer, said the Chinese were testing their capabilities against the US 'at every opportunity' Iran has been using a Chinese-built TEE-01B satellite, which provides high resolution imagery, in a deal with a Beijing based high-tech company. Officially, China denies providing direct military assistance to Iran. Previously it was thought Russia was supplying the so-called 'Imagery Intelligence' that has allowed Iran to target US bases so effectively. Former UK military intelligence officer Philip Ingram said: 'The Chinese are testing their military capabilities against the Americans at every opportunity. 'Intelligence and targeting support for Iran as well as support for Russia is giving them the opportunity to learn how to improve their targeting and military technology by proxy. 'China is getting stronger as the US depletes its weapons stock and gets weaker.' Iran continued its attacks on Jordan on Sunday. Three of its missiles were shot down while a fourth fell in a remote area. Pictured: A US strike launched from an American Navy cruiser on Friday  Sirens were heard in the capital city Amman while Iranian missiles also targeted the port city of Aqaba. Kuwait said Iran targeted a water distillation plant for a second time. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it was investigating reports of an attack on the construction site where Iran intended to build a nuclear power station. No nuclear material was present the last time it was inspected by the agency. Behind the scenes, Qatar and Iraq are attempting to mediate between the US and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global trade, remains closed while the fighting continues.