Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian involvement

Iranian drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf have prompted U.S. intelligence analysts to investigate whether Russia assisted by providing targeting information or advanced drone technology, according to four people familiar with U.S. intelligence.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said officials have not reached firm conclusions but pointed to the strikes' effectiveness and apparent precision, along with Russia's broader technical support for Iran, as possible evidence. While Moscow's general assistance to Tehran has been previously reported, the intelligence community's specific probe into the CIA facility attacks has not.

At least two CIA sites were struck in March, including the agency's station inside the U.S. embassy in Riyadh and a separate location in eastern Iraq. Two Western officials briefed on the intelligence said analysts believe the Saudi attack used Russian-enhanced versions of Iran's Shahed drones, with one aircraft blasting a hole in the embassy's exterior and a second flying through to detonate. No casualties were reported.

Analysts suspect Russia supplied a satellite navigation system, the Kometa-M, that makes the drones far more accurate and harder to jam. The Kremlin has denied providing it.

The CIA declined to comment, and Iranian, Russian and Saudi officials did not respond.