Space Research Centre in Tehran Hit in Overnight Coalition Strike: Satellite Facilities Damaged, IRGC Space Command Disrupted
By Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.comMarch 15, 2026
In the latest escalation of the US-Israel campaign against Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, coalition forces conducted a precision airstrike early on March 15, 2026, targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Space Research Centre on the southern outskirts of Tehran. High-resolution satellite imagery and defense sources confirm significant damage to multiple buildings, including satellite assembly halls, ground control stations, and testing facilities critical to Iran’s military space program.
The strike, carried out by a combination of Israeli F-35I Adir stealth fighters and US Air Force assets operating from regional bases, hit the complex shortly after 02:00 local time. CENTCOM released limited B-roll footage showing secondary explosions and thick black smoke rising from the site, while independent analysts using commercial imagery from Maxar and Planet Labs identified at least five large impact craters and structural collapse in the main assembly building.
Iranian state media, in a heavily censored initial report, acknowledged “limited damage to a scientific research facility in Tehran” and claimed “several martyrs among our space engineers.” Unofficial sources inside Iran, contacted via encrypted channels, report at least 8–12 deaths, including senior IRGC Aerospace Force officers and satellite engineers. The exact casualty figure remains unconfirmed due to Tehran’s strict information blackout.
The Tehran Space Research Centre serves as the primary hub for Iran’s military satellite program, including the development and launch of reconnaissance, communications, and potential anti-satellite platforms. Western intelligence has long assessed the facility as integral to IRGC efforts to field operational military satellites capable of real-time targeting data for ballistic missiles and proxy forces across the Middle East.
Among the systems believed to have been housed at the site:
- The Noor-3 and Noor-4 military reconnaissance satellites (optical and radar variants).
- Ground stations for the Simorgh and Qaem launch vehicles.
- Testing rigs for solid-fuel upper stages and imaging payloads.
- Command-and-control infrastructure linked to Iran’s regional missile early-warning network.
Defense analysts say the strike represents a deliberate effort to blind Iran’s space-based intelligence-gathering capabilities at a moment when the regime is under intense pressure from coalition airstrikes and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. “Destroying or degrading these facilities doesn’t just set back satellite launches—it disrupts the entire kill chain for Iran’s precision-strike arsenal,” said retired US Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, a former commander of the Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.
The attack follows a pattern of systematic targeting of Iran’s strategic enablers: nuclear-adjacent sites in Isfahan (March 14), military defenses on Kharg Island (March 13–14), missile production facilities in western Iran, and now space command infrastructure. Pentagon officials privately describe the campaign as a “layered degradation” strategy aimed at dismantling Iran’s ability to project power regionally while avoiding full-scale strikes on civilian population centers or oil export terminals—for now.
Iran’s response was immediate and furious. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a brief statement released through state media hours after the strike, called the attack “another Zionist-American crime against our scientific progress and national dignity” and reiterated his vow of “crushing revenge.” IRGC Aerospace Force commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh promised retaliation “in a manner and at a time of our choosing,” hinting at possible cyberattacks, proxy missile barrages, or asymmetric naval operations.
Within hours of the Tehran strike, Hezbollah fired another wave of 40+ rockets into northern Israel, wounding two civilians in Safed and triggering widespread shelter alerts. Houthi forces in Yemen claimed a drone attack on a Saudi border post, while Iraqi militias launched several rockets toward US positions near Kirkuk—none causing casualties but demonstrating continued proxy activation.
The strike on the Space Research Centre has also raised alarms about potential debris risks to commercial satellites in low Earth orbit. The Union of Concerned Scientists noted that any explosion involving rocket fuel or satellite components could generate additional orbital debris, further complicating an already crowded and fragile space environment.
Inside Iran, the loss of senior space personnel is seen as a serious blow to long-term ambitions. Tehran had been accelerating its satellite program in recent years, launching the Noor-3 military reconnaissance satellite in September 2025 and announcing plans for a constellation of imaging and signals-intelligence platforms by 2028. Independent experts now believe those timelines have been pushed back by at least 18–24 months.
President Donald Trump commented briefly on Truth Social: “Another perfect hit. Iran’s space program helping their missiles target our allies? Not anymore. We’re taking out threats before they can hurt us or our friends. Great job by our military and Israel.”
As the conflict enters its 17th day, the targeting of Iran’s space infrastructure signals that the coalition is systematically dismantling the regime’s strategic depth—nuclear, missile, naval, and now orbital. With casualties mounting, oil prices above $105 per barrel, and proxies intensifying attacks, the risk of miscalculation or wider escalation continues to rise.
Juba Global News Network will maintain continuous coverage from defense and intelligence sources, commercial satellite imagery analysts, and regional capitals. For exclusive before-and-after satellite photos, translated IRGC statements, orbital debris risk assessments, and live updates, visit JubaGlobal.com.
Related Coverage:
- Hezbollah barrages intensify as Lebanon ground incursion looms
- Mojtaba Khamenei vows “crushing revenge” in major address
- Trump urges global naval coalition to secure Strait of Hormuz
- Global oil prices surge past $105 amid blockade fears
- FBI warns of heightened domestic terror risk from Iran-linked actors
Stay informed. Stay ahead. Juba Global News Network — reporting the truth from orbit to the front lines.
