Russia took satellite images of US base in Saudi Arabia before Iran strike: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News on Saturday that Russian forces took satellite images of a U.S. air base in Saudi Arabia three times in the days before Iran attacked the site. 

During an interview in Doha, Qatar, Zelensky said he was “100 percent” confident that Russia was sharing that intelligence with Iran. On Friday, an Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, injured 12 U.S. service members, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The outlet reported that two troops suffered significant injuries, while 10 were concussed. The attack also damaged multiple U.S. refueling aircraft and several unmanned aerial vehicles were hit, the Journal added.

Zelensky noted Saturday that his daily intelligence briefing indicates that Russian satellites captured photos of the air base, which hosts U.S. and Saudi troops, on March 20, 23 and 25. 

“I think that it’s in Russia’s interest to help Iranians,” he said. “And I don’t believe — I know — that they share information. Do they help Iranians? Of course. How many percent? One-hundred percent.”

“We know that if they make images once, they are preparing. If they make images a second time, it’s like a simulation. The third time it means that in one or two days, they will attack,” he later added.

The Hill has reached out to the Pentagon and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. 

Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military deployed counter-drone units to protect the civilians and infrastructure of Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. President Trump previously told multiple outlets that the U.S. did not need assistance from Ukraine amid its war with Iran. 

On Saturday, Zelensky met with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, along with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. The Ukrainian leader wrote on the social platform X that he “provided an update on the security situation in Ukraine, the ongoing Russian attacks, and Russia’s close cooperation with the Iranian regime.”

Zelensky also touted a 10-year “mutually beneficial” defense industry partnership between the two governments, which he said “provides for joint defense industry projects, the establishment of co-production facilities, and technological partnerships between companies.”

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