US Believes Russia Providing Iran with Locations of American Troops

Alleged intelligence sharing puts US service members at risk, according to sources.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The U.S. government believes that Russia has been providing Iran with the locations of American troops, aircraft, and ships in the Middle East, according to two people familiar with the intelligence. This alleged assistance would enable Iran to potentially target specific U.S. military assets with ballistic missiles and drones, putting American service members at risk.

Why it matters

If true, this intelligence sharing between Russia and Iran would be a significant escalation that could jeopardize the safety of U.S. troops in the region. It raises concerns about the coordination between America's adversaries and the potential for further attacks on American forces.

The details

The U.S. believes Russia is supplying Iran with intelligence on the locations of American aircraft, ships, and troops in the Middle East, according to the two sources. This would allow Iran to potentially target specific U.S. military assets with ballistic missiles and drones. While the White House did not deny the report, a press secretary said the U.S. is still achieving its military objectives in the region and decimating Iran's capabilities.

  • On March 1, six U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian drone attack on a base in Kuwait.
  • At least 10 other U.S. troops have been severely wounded in operations across the region.

The players

Russia

A geopolitical adversary of the United States that has been accused of providing intelligence to Iran that could be used to target American troops.

Iran

A U.S. adversary in the Middle East that could potentially use the intelligence provided by Russia to launch attacks on American military assets and personnel.

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary who did not deny the report about Russia providing intelligence to Iran, but said the U.S. is still achieving its military objectives in the region.

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What they’re saying

“It clearly is not making a difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (mycentraloregon.com)

What’s next

The U.S. government is likely to continue investigating the alleged intelligence sharing between Russia and Iran, and may take steps to protect American troops in the region if the reports are confirmed.

The takeaway

This potential intelligence sharing between America's adversaries raises serious concerns about the safety of U.S. service members in the Middle East and the coordination of efforts to undermine U.S. military operations in the region.