CNN reported on 25 September 2026 that China‘s intelligence and satellite support had enhanced Iran‘s ability to track ships through the Strait of Hormuz, improving the targeting of Iranian drones and missiles. Iran has used the data to time attacks with unsophisticated heatseeking drones that cannot be maneuvered in midair, firing them at ships once they reach a particular point in the strait.
China, along with Russia, has also provided technical assistance that helped Iran improve the guidance systems on its missiles and drones. China has separately sent Iran air defense systems.
Efforts Category: China’s Military Support of Iran
Iran International reported on 23 September 2026, citing the Associated Press, that personnel from Iran‘s Revolutionary Guard Corps had been on the ground in Yemen, helping the Houthis seize the country’s Red Sea coast from the government forces.
IRGC advisers helped direct a rapid 115-kilometer offensive that exploited divisions among forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Efforts Category: Iran’s Military and Covert Support of the Houthis
