Investing.com -- U.S. officials have linked high-resolution satellite imagery supplied to Iran by Chinese entities to a July missile strike on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three American troops, the Wall Street Journal reported exclusively on Friday.
The officials did not identify the Chinese entities that provided the imagery and did not allege direct involvement by Beijing. Iran obtained images both before and after the July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, according to the report.
Iranian ballistic missiles struck a housing area where U.S. troops were sleeping, killing three soldiers and wounding four others. The attack was one of three missile strikes against the base within 24 hours and marked the first U.S. deaths since an April ceasefire.
U.S. officials raised the satellite imagery with Chinese counterparts, who challenged the findings and requested evidence. China's embassy in Washington did not address the specific allegations but said the country's cooperation with Iran complied with international law.
The findings could add friction to U.S.-China relations ahead of a planned Sept. 24 summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.