Iran military satellite relays full-scale image of US base

Iran’s first military satellite Nour (Light)-1 has relayed a full-scale image of the United States’ biggest airbase in West Asia in its first attempt at imaging from the space since launch.

The Aerospace Division of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) that launched the multi-purpose satellite back in April provided the high-resolution vivid image of the al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar that the orbiter had taken using the “mosaic imaging” method, Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The image covers the full expanse of the airbase that reportedly houses as many as 13,000 terrorist US forces and answers to the terrorist US Central Command (CENTCOM). Iran recognizes the Pentagon and all of its subsidiaries, including CENTCOM, as terrorist entities in response to a move by Washington to blacklist the IRGC last year, despite the Corps’ proven record of successful terror fight across the region.

The IRGC said the image was taken as Nour-1 was monitoring underway large-scale drills by the Corps, codenamed Payambar-e A’zam (The Great Prophet) 14, that enlisted both the elite force’s Aerospace Division and its Navy. Upon launching the orbiter back on April 22, the Aerospace Division vowed that the country’s aerospace program would gather pace with the development.

During the maneuvers that spanned the general area of Hormozgan Province, west of the strategic Hormuz Strait, and the Persian Gulf, the Corps staged “all-out and multi-layer” strikes against the life-size replica of a Nimitz-class US aircraft carrier.

The IRGC’s servicemen began the episode by destroying the mock carrier’s accompaniment with coast-to-sea fire. State television aired footage showing the damage caused to the mock aircraft carrier following the operational juncture, and the IRGC commandos’ rappelling onto the vessel.

On Tuesday, CNN reported that following the launch of ballistic missiles by the Corps during the drills, al-Udeid and al-Dhafra, another airbase in the United Arab Emirates, were temporarily put on “high alert” and the American forces deployed there were asked to stay in bunkers.

US forces asked to stay in bunkers as Iran fires missiles amid drills: Reports

US military forces deployed to some Middle East bases were reportedly asked to stay in bunkers as Iran’s IRGC fired ballistic missiles during normal military drills off the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking alongside the drills, the IRGC’s chief commander, Major General Hossein Salami, said the Islamic Republic would never initiate any offensive against any country but would assumes a fully offensive mode when it comes to tactical and operational performance.

IRGC commander: Iran won’t initiate aggression, but will be offensive in tactics

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps says it would never be the party to launch an offensive against any country, but would assume a fully offensive mode, when it comes to tactical and operational performance.

By assuming an offensive mode on the operational and tactical level, the Corps will be “turning the tables” on the enemy, General Salami asserted.

Charles Dunaway, a political analyst from the US state of Oregon, says, “The acquisition of satellite imaging capability of this quality is a major breakthrough not only for Iran but for the entire region. The forces of Resistance will now be able to monitor US, Saudi and Israeli forces throughout the region." 

"Release of this data publicly puts the aggressor nations on notice that their facilities and their soldiers are not safe from attack by Iran or others resisting the Anglo-Zionist empire.  It means that Iran may be able to make publicly available information on troop and ship movements to counter planned attacks."

"It is time for the US to withdraw completely from the region. The American people will not support a policy that makes their military sitting ducks,” the pundit told Press TV.

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