A Chinese company has been posting online satellite imagery of the U.S. military buildup in Southwest Asia. Experts consulted by the South China Morning Post, which says this underlines Beijing’s intelligence abilities. The updates, posted by MizarVision, have detailed the exact numbers and models of U.S. jets parked at the facilities, as well as their air defense systems.
MizarVision’s latest update on Feb. 25 followed the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford at the Souda Bay naval base in Crete. In a post on Feb. 24, the firm said: “High-definition satellite imagery indicates a reduction in both tanker and transport aircraft at Al Udeid Air Base [Qatar], though air defense and anti-missile systems remain deployed.” Mizarvision has also published imagery showing the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan crowded with F-16s, F-35s, and other aircraft. Its cameras have also been aimed at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, showing a build-up of aircraft there as well.
According to Defence Security Asia (DSA), MizarVision has also published imagery of the Prince Sultan airbase in Saudi Arabia, showing 13 Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, 1 Boeing E-3G Sentry AWACS, and 5 Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, poised for extended regional operations.
The strategic visibility of the Prince Sultan build-up—augmented by tanker concentration and airborne early warning assets—signals Washington’s intent to sustain prolonged air operations over Iranian airspace rather than conduct a limited demonstrative strike, indicating structural readiness rather than symbolic deterrence, DSA comments. Simultaneously, the exposure of these aircraft through Chinese satellite capabilities removes the ambiguity traditionally associated with forward-deployed U.S. air power, complicating operational security and amplifying geopolitical signalling across the Middle East theater.
The War Zone reported on Feb. 25 that a dozen F-22 stealth fighters have been deployed to Israel and that F-16’s have been spotted on Diego Garcia to protect the Indian Ocean outpost against potential Iranian attacks. The stealth jets took off from RAF Lakenheath in England last week and are now reported to be at an Israeli Air Force base in the south of Israel.
The presence of F-22s—as well as KC-135 Stratotankers—in Israel, reflects the fact that Israel will almost certainly be fully integrated into any potential U.S. operation against Iran, TWZ says. Furthermore, the United States has limited basing options in the region, including countries that have said they would not allow U.S. operations to have access to their airspace. Meanwhile, the threat of Iranian short-range missiles and drone strikes also limits where these U.S. assets can go.
The imagery of Diego Garcia from MizarVision shows KC-135s, a couple of cargo aircraft, a Navy P-8, and the F-16s, reported to have been deployed from Misawa, Japan, but apparently no bombers.
