Allegations of Iran Using Russian Drones in Attacks on U.S. CIA Facilities...U.S. Intelligence Investigating

Russian-Modified Shahed Drones Deployed
Investigation Underway Into Possible Full-Scale Iranian Support

TASS Yonhap News Agency

There have been allegations that Iran used Russian drones to carry out precision strikes against CIA facilities in the Middle East during the war. U.S. intelligence authorities are reportedly investigating whether there was active support from Russia in these operations.

According to Reuters and major foreign news outlets on July 22 (local time), suspicions have been raised that Russian-made drones were used in drone attacks on CIA branches in the Middle East. Reports indicate that, at the site of a March drone attack by Iran on a CIA branch in Saudi Arabia, two Russian-made drones were discovered. At least two CIA facilities—one in Saudi Arabia and another in Iraq—were reportedly targeted during the war.

A Western government official in the Gulf region stated, "It has been analyzed that two Iranian Shahed drones, modified by Russia, were deployed in the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia. The first drone created a hole in a vulnerable section of the embassy's outer wall, and the second drone entered through that hole and exploded." There were no reported fatalities or injuries as a result of the attack.

Previously, after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Russia—having imported large quantities of Iranian-made Shahed drones—reportedly equipped these drones with its own satellite navigation system, the 'Kometa-M,' thereby improving their accuracy and resistance to jamming. Allegations have since emerged that Russia also provided this technology to Iran. However, the Kremlin has denied supplying the device to Iran.

U.S. intelligence is currently examining whether Iran used drones imported from Russia, and whether Russia went beyond providing technical support to actively assisting the operation by divulging the location of CIA facilities and directing the attacks. Some have also suggested that, during the attack, Iran may not have specifically targeted the CIA branch but rather aimed at the entire U.S. Embassy, incidentally striking the CIA facility in the process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.