Iran used commercial satellite imagery to monitor Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq before launching a dozen ballistic missiles at US and coalition forces.
The missile attack damaged the base, equipment, a helicopter and injured 110 people. The alarm of the imminent attack had been announced by the satellite operators of the American Space Force.

Initial reports from military analysts show that Iran acquired satellite images of the base on the day of the attack, information that was immediately intercepted by the US central command. According to CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin, USCENTCOM Commander General Frank McKenzie ordered the evacuation of al-Asad Air Base after news of Iran's purchase of satellite images of the base.

"The Iranians through the images saw the airplanes on the ground and the people who worked“Said McKenzie. "Their goal was to destroy many US planes and to kill US military and civilian personnel."

It is still unclear from which supplier Iran bought the satellite imagery.
The practice of purchasing satellite imagery from commercial suppliers is not new, the US intelligence community and the Department of Defense also use it.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency purchases unclassified commercial images to share with other government organizations, while the National Reconnaissance Office uses study contracts to determine which commercial images it will purchase for the intelligence community.

The US military is signing deals with various companies for real-time imaging and analysis. In September, the US military pioneered the use of commercial imagery for targeting targets not usually covered by military systems.
It is still unclear how the US defense knew that Iran was purchasing the images, or how it knew when the images of al-Asad airbase were purchased.

THE ATTACK ON THE AIN AL-ASAD BASE

At least 10 rockets hit the Ain al-Asad military base in western Iraq. The affected military base is located in Anbar province. According to unconfirmed sources, a contractor is among the victims. 
According to reports by Colonel Wayne Marotto, spokesman for the US-led coalition, the rockets hit the base at 7.20 local time. The Iraqi army later reported that the attack did not cause significant casualties and that the security forces found the launch pad used for the missiles. This was the first attack since the US last week hit targets of an Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia on the Iraqi-Syrian border, fueling fears that last year's escalation of attacks could be repeated. one in response to the other, culminating in the US raid in which Iranian general Qassim Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport.

Last week's US raid along the Iraq-Syria border came in response to the launch of a series of rockets that targeted the US presence in Iraq: in one of these a US-led coalition contractor, originally from of the Philippines, outside Erbil Airport. After that raid, the Pentagon said it was "A proportionate military response" taken after consulting coalition partners.

Iraq attack: Iran used commercial satellite images