US investigators are probing a possible Chinese satellite imagery link to the deadly Iranian missile strike on Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed three American service members and wounded several others. The investigation centres on reports that Iran obtained high-resolution satellite imagery of the Jordanian military base before the July 17 attack, potentially giving Tehran detailed information about the location and layout of US forces and military assets at the site. Questions are also being raised over imagery allegedly obtained after the strike, which could have allowed Iranian authorities to assess the damage caused by the attack. The emergence of video from Al-Salti Air Base within hours of the strike has further intensified scrutiny over how quickly Iran was able to obtain information from the target. Three US troops were killed and four others wounded in the missile attack, with multiple American personnel reportedly requiring medical evacuation or treatment following the strike.

The Strait of Hormuz standoff has taken a new turn after Iran's IRGC claimed it captured an American unmanned underwater drone during operations in the strategic waterway. Iranian forces reportedly identified the vehicle as an American-built Dive-LD unmanned submersible, a system designed for extended underwater missions including intelligence gathering, seabed surveys and infrastructure-related operations. The reported capture has drawn attention because the US military is increasingly investing in unmanned naval systems to conduct high-risk surveillance missions without putting sailors directly in harm's way. Dive-LD is designed to operate for up to 10 days at sea and reach depths of around 6,000 metres. However, Washington has sought to play down the incident. The Pentagon reportedly said the underwater drone had malfunctioned more than a day before Iran made its capture claim and stressed that the vehicle was an older system carrying no sensitive or classified equipment. WATCH