Russia and North Korea have grown closer since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At a 2024 summit, leaders from the two countries agreed to expand economic and military cooperation. But without a road connection in place, direct trade has relied on maritime routes and a single rail link.

The construction of this bridge adds a valuable third route for trade between Pyongyang and Moscow. Its completion will be the latest example of deepening cooperation between the countries, which has already included North Korean forces fighting for Russia against Ukraine. Work on the bridge has been underway for more than a year, and it is expected to be completed in the coming months.

A timelapse of satellite imagery shows major construction beginning on the project in early 2025. Recent reporting and imagery analysis from NK News shows how, in the last few months, construction crews on the Russian and North Korean sides of the Tumen River brought together their ends of the bridge.

As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into a fifth year, new trade routes between Russia and its partners will be of particular concern for Kyiv and its allies. With countries like North Korea, Russia, China, and Iran deepening ties, joint infrastructure projects like this one could become more common.

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Over the weekend, the US and Israel launched a massive wave of strikes on Iran, damaging military facilities and killing many of the country’s top leadership. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on U.S. and European bases in the region and nearby countries, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Here are some of the most striking satellite images from the weekend. For the latest updates, check out the Critical Threat Project and ISW’s daily coverage.

Damage to Iran’s air and missile bases

US and Israeli strikes targeted many of Iran’s air and missile bases, destroying hangars, piercing aircraft shelters, and collapsing tunnel entrances.

Targeting Iran’s navy

In addition to Tehran’s air and missile forces, the Iranian navy was targeted by American and Israeli strikes. President Trump said Sunday that the US destroyed nine Iranian warships.

Strikes on Iran’s radar and air defenses

The US and Israel targeted several Iranian radars over the weekend, which hampered Iran’s ability to detect and confront incoming strikes. On February 28th alone, Israel struck at least 11 air defense systems in western Iran, according to AEI’s Critical Threats Project and ISW.

Targeting Iranian government sites

Also a target of the weekend’s strikes were Iranian government facilities, including the former Supreme Leader Khamenei’s compound and law enforcement command facilities in Tehran.

Iran’s retaliation across the Middle East

In response to US and Israeli strikes, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, U.S. and European bases in the region, and other nearby countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Beware of fake satellite images

Misinformation spiked over the weekend, and satellite imagery was not immune. The first AI-generated satellite image that I came across purported to be a before-and-after comparison of damage to a US naval facility in Bahrain from an Iranian strike. But it had no visible credit to an imagery provider and showed the tell-tale signs of AI generation: impossible angles and hallucinated details not present in real imagery of the site. When I reverse-searched the fake image, I found it had already spread across social media like a virus, with dozens of posts across various social networks.

AI has made it easier than ever to generate fakes, so double-check what you see and rely on trusted sources for analysis. I wrote last year for TIME on the risks posed by fake satellite images and how we can push back — check out that piece here.

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In China’s northwest desert, a military air base is growing. Situated far from any major city, this remote base serves as a test site for some of Beijing’s most secretive aerospace projects. The facility may play a role in China’s military space program, serving as a test site for next-generation space planes. Over the years, well-timed overhead passes by satellites have also captured photos of new aircraft in development at this base, like the J-36 stealth fighter jet below. Now, as first reported by The War Zone, China is expanding the site.

The changes include expanded aprons, new hangars for aircraft, and dozens of other new buildings for personnel and equipment. These facilities mark a substantial increase in the facility’s infrastructure, which was little more than a lone hangar near a runway just five years ago. The investment in this base’s expansion likely reflects Beijing’s plans to utilize this site more prominently in future aircraft development. Below is a time-lapse of the work China has done on this base over the past year.

China’s expansion of this base comes at a time of elevated aerospace competition between Washington and Beijing. The two countries are pursuing expanded capabilities in space, including lunar programs and satellite constellations. In the past few years, Washington and Beijing have also furthered plans develop a new generation of bombers, fighter jets, and drones — the kinds of platforms tested at sites like this one.

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Israeli and US strikes on Iran last summer cratered runways, destroyed buildings, and collapsed tunnels at the country’s military bases and nuclear sites. In the months following the conflict, Tehran has worked to repair damage at some of its key facilities.

At several Iranian bases, including the one in Tabriz shown above, taxiways and runways that were put out of commission by strikes have been repaired, leaving patch marks visible from above. At air bases like Hamadan, shown below, new construction is also visible near repaired tarmac. These construction efforts demonstrate Iran’s plans for continued use of these sites. Still, some damage from the summer’s strikes remains, even while new construction is undertaken nearby.

As recently reported by The New York Times, Iran has also begun repairs at nuclear and missile sites hit by US and Israeli strikes, in addition to its air bases. Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, shown below, was hit by multiple strikes that targeted the site’s surface-level buildings and underground complex. While many of the damaged buildings remain, new satellite imagery shows some repairs have taken place since the site was struck last summer.

These ongoing repair efforts come at a time of increased tensions between the US and Iran. While talks between Iran and the US continue, the US has moved military assets to the region. Israel has also signaled concern over Tehran reconstituting its missile and nuclear capabilities, and President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu plan to meet to discuss these issues.

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People across the Caribbean hunkered down in shelters this week in the face of Hurricane Melissa, a violent storm that first made landfall in Jamaica. The storm brought massive flooding, rainfall, and perilously high winds that tore into infrastructure. Local authorities are reporting dozens of deaths as a result, with the toll expected to rise as the storm continues and emergency responders confront the aftermath.

The satellite image below offers a look at the eye of Hurricane Melissa, captured as the storm made landfall in Jamaica. According to the director of the National Hurricane Center, storm-force winds extended for nearly 200 miles from the eye and put at risk communities throughout the Caribbean.

Hurricane Melissa became the third Category 5 hurricane of 2025, and has since proved to be the strongest of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. Wind speeds from the storm reached 185 mph (297 kph), with sustained winds stronger than Hurricane Katrina.

While the storm still rages, countries, humanitarian groups, and international organizations are working to send aid to those impacted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that American rescue teams have been dispatched to the region and that the U.S. is in contact with local governments to offer support. The UN is also launching a sea-lift to deliver aid to the region, including essentials like water, sanitation, and personal hygiene kits.

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Ukraine has stepped up its strike campaign on Russia’s energy sector, targeting infrastructure like oil refineries, pipeline pumping stations, and electrical substations with drones and missiles. Satellite imagery reveals the aftermath of these strikes, which have damaged storage areas and specialized equipment at several facilities.

Ukraine used weapons supplied by allies for some of these operations, but many employed drones and missiles that Kyiv produces domestically. The US also reportedly provided intelligence to help Ukraine more effectively target Russian sites.

The strikes are putting a strain on Russian oil production, a key source of revenue for Moscow’s war effort. The effect is compounded by sanctions, which can make it more difficult for these facilities to replace damaged parts.

Gasoline shortages are prompting Russian authorities to impose limits on fuel purchases in some regions. In Russian-occupied Crimea, drivers were capped at five gallons. Overall, Ukraine estimates that strikes have left Russia with 20 percent less gasoline than it needs.

While Kyiv’s campaign on Russian energy has recently increased in scope, Ukraine itself has suffered from relentless attacks on its energy infrastructure since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. As a result of Moscow’s strikes, Ukrainians have endured repeated blackouts, and more than half of the country’s natural gas production may be offline as the country prepares for winter.

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In the last three years, Russia has launched thousands of one-way attack drones at Ukraine — sometimes more than 400 in a single night. Russian forces send the drones in waves, launching them in tandem with missiles and decoys in an attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. Each drone can carry its explosive warhead more than 1,000 kilometers before slamming into a target. While Kyiv shoots down a large number of these drones, many still impact residential buildings or civilian infrastructure.

Originally supplied by Iran, Russia can now produce these drones domestically. Ukraine has targeted the main facility producing them several times, but the complex continues to operate and expand.

In recent months, drone launch sites were built at several locations closer to the battlefield in Ukraine, including an air base in southwestern Russia.

Satellite imagery of the base shows new storage areas and launch rails, which the drones use for takeoff. Russia’s drones can launch with the help of a rocket booster, moving trucks, or catapults.

Also located at the base are recently constructed hardened shelters, which Russian forces can use to store and protect larger aircraft, drones, and other equipment. Visible in the satellite image below is a group of more than a dozen drones near these shelters. Further imagery shows groups of drones massed near one of the base’s launch sites.

Ukraine has also developed a suite of long-range one-way attack drones. In recent weeks, strikes from Kyiv’s fleet of drones have targeted Russian military sites like Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base, fuel depots, oil refineries, and manufacturing facilities linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One of Kyiv’s recent strikes hit a refinery more than 1,700 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Another targeted a refinery in the Russian city of Saratov, causing the facility to pause oil intake. These efforts are part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to damage Russia’s military production capabilities and cut into Moscow’s energy revenues.

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Welcome to Views From Above, a newsletter bringing you satellite imagery snapshots of major world events. Today, we are looking at the wildfire raging near the Grand Canyon.

On July 4th, lightning struck a forested area along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, sparking a fire that has since scorched more than 28,700 acres of land. Dozens of structures have been damaged or destroyed, including the historic Grand Canyon lodge and several cabins. The lodge, nearly a century old, was a destination for international tourists and visitors from across the country.

Authorities estimate that the fire is 26 percent contained, with firefighters navigating difficult terrain to combat the flames. Strong winds and dry conditions have further complicated efforts to contain the fire, causing it to spread quickly beyond initial containment lines.

The fire comes at a difficult time for the U.S. National Park Service, which has seen a rapid reduction in size and funding over the last six months. More than 4,000 full-time employees have left due to layoffs, buyouts, and resignations since January 2025, placing strain on existing workers to manage record-levels of visitation to the country’s parks.

Below is a time-lapse of satellite imagery that shows how the fire spread from a limited area to a formidable blaze spanning thousands of acres.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs recently visited the area affected by the fire, meeting with firefighters and authorities on the ground working to contain it. She commented that the state is coordinating with federal officials in their response, and supports rebuilding structures destroyed by the flames — including the historic Grand Canyon lodge.

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Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility is a complex buried deep underground. To target this site, the US used precision-guided bombs dropped from long-range bombers designed to penetrate deep into the earth before detonating. The imagery above, released by Maxar, shows entry points in the ground above the Fordow enrichment facility from several of these bombs hitting the site.

Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was also targeted with precision-guided bombs. The satellite imagery above shows damage from the latest US strike, with other existing damage from previous Israeli strikes also visible. An impact point can be seen above the underground enrichment facility at Natanz, similar to the damage visible at Fordow.

A third location struck by the US was Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, shown above, which is Iran’s largest nuclear research complex. It houses sites that Israel has previously struck, including one for a uranium conversion — a process where uranium ore concentrate is made into a form that can be enriched.

Pentagon officials say that Iran’s nuclear sites sustained “severe damage,” but the full extent of the operation’s impact could not yet be assessed. In a joint statement following the US strikes, the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom called on Iran not to take any further action that could destabilize the region.

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In the early morning hours of June 13th, Israel launched strikes on Iran with the stated aim of eliminating Tehran’s nuclear program. The operation’s opening strikes targeted key Iranian military personnel, bases, nuclear scientists, and enrichment facilities. Satellite imagery reveals the impact of these attacks, which eliminated some of Iran’s highest-ranking military officials. Tehran has since responded with salvos of ballistic missiles and drones, while Israel continues hitting targets across Iran.

The satellite image above shows damage to Tabriz Air Base in northwestern Iran after it was struck by Israel. The attack cratered taxiways used by fighter jets at the base, hindering Iran’s capacity to respond to Israel’s array of strikes. Scenarios like this one played out across Iran on Friday, with Israel targeting Iranian missiles, radars, and aircraft or otherwise hindering Tehran’s ability to use them.

In targeting top Iranian military personnel, Israel struck residences and military facilities in Tehran. One such strike collapsed a section of a building, seen above, while others caused far more limited damage. After several successful targeted assassinations by Israel, among other strikes, videos emerged on social media of long lines of cars departing Tehran.

Nuclear sites were targeted as well, such as the Isfahan and Natanz enrichment facilities shown in the imagery released by Maxar below. Iran’s most well-protected facilities, like the Fordow uranium enrichment site built deep underground, have yet to be destroyed.

Attacks also expanded to oil infrastructure, with Iran hitting a refinery in Haifa and Israel responding with strikes on Iranian facilities. The satellite image below shows two fuel depots on the outer edges of Tehran burning after Israel struck them. Iran’s state media also reported an Israeli drone targeting the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, resulting in a halt in operations.

Since launching its operation on Friday, Israel has fought to counter retaliatory drones and missiles fired directly by Iran and Tehran’s proxies, like the Houthis in Yemen. Israeli officials have reportedly urged the U.S. to join operations, but American participation has so far remained limited to shooting down Iranian missiles headed for Israel and providing intelligence.

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Last week, Ukraine pulled off a daring attack on Russian air bases when drones rose from trucks to strike long-range bombers far from the front line. Several of these bases contained simple decoy aircraft, and planes covered in tires, which failed to mislead Kyiv’s drones.

The aircraft targeted by Ukraine were not only Russia’s bombers but also airborne early warning aircraft and a cargo plane. Some of the bombers were loaded with missiles at the time of the attack.

Ukraine’s operation targeted five air bases, and drones successfully made it to four of them.

At Russia’s Belaya and Olenya air bases, the burnt husks of Russian Tu-95 bombers are visible in the satellite imagery above, released by commercial imagery provider Maxar. Also destroyed were several Tu-22M bombers, another aircraft Russia uses to strike Ukraine. Damage to aircraft at a third base, named Dyagilevo, can be seen in footage from the drones’ onboard cameras released by the SBU, a Ukrainian intelligence agency. Published footage also shows Ukraine’s drones targeting a pair of Russian A-50 airborne early warning aircraft at a fourth base, which were missing parts and non-operational.

Drones en route to attack a fifth Russian air base never made it there. Videos from the ground showed a truck reportedly carrying them exploding on the side of the road. In total, analysts from the open-source intelligence company Janes identified 22 Russian aircraft damaged or destroyed across the air bases targeted by Ukraine.

Alongside destroyed planes, Russia’s deception efforts are visible in satellite imagery of these sites. I spoke with Business Insider about the simple decoy aircraft Russia has created at many of their bases in an effort to confuse Ukrainian weapons. They also placed debris on top of some of these flat decoys, or positioned other objects in the rough shape of an aircraft, to increase their visibility to Ukraine’s weapons or the radar-based satellite imagery used by the Ukrainian military.

Another deception tactic Russia employs is adorning its aircraft with tires, which can alter the plane’s apparent shape and profile when viewed from above. As Ukraine’s destruction of several Russian aircraft shows, these efforts were ineffective in luring Ukraine’s drones away from their targets.

Notably, the aircraft targeted by Ukraine were sitting out in the open, not tucked away in hangars or shelters. Russia’s limited number of shelters for its aircraft was a vulnerability only addressed in recent years. However, their efforts in building them have largely focused on sites closer to the front line in Ukraine than those hit by Kyiv’s operation last week.

Ukraine continues to strike Russian air bases and their support facilities, like the fuel depot Kyiv hit Friday that supplies a nearby Russian air base. Moscow responded to Ukraine’s operation from last week with a barrage of drone and missile strikes on cities across the country, which left several dead and dozens injured.

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On Monday morning, tourists hiking Sicily’s Mount Etna were forced to evacuate when a huge eruption sent ash billowing into the sky. The active volcano is a popular destination and welcomes more than a million visitors each year who come to see the lava flows and fissures regularly visible at the site. The last large eruption occurred in February, and this recent activity created a blast heard more than 40 kilometers away.

The satellite imagery above shows how the active volcano looked on a typical day last month, compared with this week’s large eruption. Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology stated that all tourists who were on the volcano when the eruption occurred have been evacuated, and the activity was limited to the volcano’s summit (an area not open to tourists). According to initial observations by the national institute, a section of the volcano’s southeast crater partially collapsed during the eruption.

Renato Schifani, Sicily’s president, said lava flows created by the eruption are contained and pose no danger to the local population. The eruption’s strength lessened as the day progressed, and Italian officials now say the intensity of tremors has fallen and lava flows are beginning to cool.

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Russia and North Korea recently announced a new construction project: a cross-border road bridge. It is being built near an existing rail link previously used to transport North Korean weapons to Russia. The project’s announcement is part of a series of moves strengthening ties between the two countries, which have deepened significantly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The satellite image above shows the existing rail bridge and progress on constructing the new roadway on each side of the border. According to Russian and North Korean officials, the bridge is slated for completion halfway through 2026.

North Korea has supported Russia in multiple ways since the latter country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to sending troops, Pyongyang has provided Moscow with ammunition, artillery, and other military equipment. Intelligence officials from the US, South Korea, and Ukraine have said North Korea dispatched up to 12,000 troops to Russia. While both countries initially denied that troops were sent, Putin later praised North Korean soldiers for their assistance.

In return, Russia has provided North Korea with an infusion of funds, resources like oil, and diplomatic leverage. Russia can further assist in developing military technology and, through fighting in Ukraine, North Korea’s soldiers and weapons can become part of a battlefield-tested force.

The two countries signed a mutual defense treaty in 2024, and experts expect their relationship will continue to deepen. Construction projects like the cross-border road bridge are a part of that growing relationship. To see more imagery, check out a time-lapse of Russia and North Korea’s construction efforts from the past few months in the video below.

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Several areas in the midwestern and southern US continue to endure storms and hazardous weather conditions, which meteorologists warn will persist for days. In addition to heavy rain and high winds, residents are facing tornadoes and hail large enough to cause injury and damage property. Officials report that more than 28 people have died as a result of this recent bout of severe weather.

The aerial imagery above shows the aftermath of a tornado that touched down in southeastern Kentucky on Friday. It left a scar of destroyed homes and flattened trees along a nearly 30-mile path that is visible from space. The area above shows just one mile of the tornado’s trail as it passed through London, Kentucky — a city of less than 8,000. Since the tornado struck on Friday, first responders have worked alongside local volunteers to clear debris and help those in need. Disaster relief organizations like the Red Cross are also sending emergency aid to those affected by the storms.

A closer look at this segment of the tornado’s path can be seen in the video below, and a gallery of close-ups is available further down.

This round of severe weather renewed some meteorologists’ concerns over cuts to National Weather Service (NWS) stations, including those that provide weather updates to rural communities. Some stations have cut their overnight shifts, which can be critical to monitoring weather emergencies. To manage the response to this latest string of storms, the NWS station in Jackson, Kentucky — a forecast office that no longer has overnight staffing — called in workers to help coordinate first responders and issue warnings during the night.

NWS’s Storm Prediction Center issued new warnings for several areas of the Midwest and South to prepare for more hazardous weather, meaning the strain on the residents enduring these storms, and weather experts tracking them, is not yet over.

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Earlier this week, President Trump was met by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Royal Terminal of Riyadh’s international airport in Saudi Arabia. The President’s travel to the Middle East marked the first major international trip of his second term and included visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The satellite image above shows Air Force One shortly after it touched down in Saudi Arabia. The President was greeted by an arrival ceremony complete with a long lavender carpet. It’s visible in the imagery above, not yet fully unfurled, and can be seen from ground level in the photo below.

The visit culminated in an announcement that the US would sell Saudi Arabia nearly $142 billion in arms and defense technology. The deal, according to the White House, aims to help Riyadh address defense challenges in several areas, including space capabilities, air and missile defense, maritime security, and border security.

Similarly, the US State Department recently approved a sale of $1.4 billion in military equipment to the UAE that includes helicopters and parts for F-16 jets. The President also moved forward a deal with Qatar, which plans to spend nearly $2 billion on American MQ-9B drones and another $1 billion on counter-drone capabilities. Alongside this, Doha signed a statement of intent with the US outlining over $38 billion in potential defense investments.

Yesterday, a group of Senate Democrats moved to block the arms sales to the UAE and Qatar. They cited concerns over the President’s comments on accepting a plane as a gift from Doha for use as Air Force One and the UAE’s intention to invest $2 billion in a cryptocurrency associated with Trump.

Since President Trump’s second term began, the State Department has announced approval of 36 foreign military sales to American allies and partners.

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Following a terror attack in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, India launched a series of military strikes in Pakistan. These missile strikes targeted infrastructure that India described as supporting terror activity.

The satellite image above shows damage to Nur Khan Air Base, one of several Pakistani military sites targeted by Indian forces. The air base serves as a transport hub for Pakistan’s military and houses aerial refueling aircraft that help keep Pakistani jets in the air during combat. However, there is no clear damage to aircraft in the image above, which was captured several hours after the strikes occurred.

The base is located in Rawalpindi, just kilometers from Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad. As The New York Times reports, the site struck is also “a short distance from the headquarters of Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which oversees and protects the country’s nuclear arsenal.”

Other military sites in Pakistan were also damaged by strikes, including Bholari Air Base shown in the satellite image below.

The recent exchange of strikes between India and Pakistan is reminiscent of events in 2019, when a terror attack on Indian personnel preceded more than a month of violence between the two nuclear-armed states.

Following this latest round of fighting, India and Pakistan have declared a ceasefire. The US reportedly took an active role in talks, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio spending much of Friday evening speaking with officials from both countries. However, the strength of that ceasefire is already being tested, with reports of shelling along the border prevailing into the weekend.

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As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has continued, Kyiv has developed a suite of long-range munitions to strike deep into Russian territory. These drones and missiles have struck several Russian air bases, prompting Moscow to bolster on-the-ground protection for aircraft. At air bases across Russia, new shelters have been constructed to guard aircraft from aerial attack.

The satellite image above shows the construction of shelters at Russia’s Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base. This site is located on the Sea of Azov, about 230 kilometers from the front line in Ukraine. It has been targeted several times by Ukrainian forces, who have identified the base as one of Russia’s launch points for its one-way attack drones. Russia has made efforts to complicate Ukraine’s targeting of the base in the past with the creation of simple decoy aircraft.

The construction effort at Primorsko-Akhtarsk has been mirrored at air bases across Russia, where shelters and other protective barriers continue to be built. Ukraine aims to ramp up its production of long-range drones, with President Zelensky announcing an aim to produce 30,000 this year. Ukraine is also aiming to increase the production of missiles.

As Kyiv’s long-range strike ability grows, Russia’s efforts to bolster protection for its aircraft and other key military assets are likely to increase as well.

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On April 26th, a fire in Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port ignited an explosion, which state officials report killed more than 50 people and injured over 1,000 more. Areas of the port continued to burn for several days after the initial explosion.

The satellite imagery above (released by Maxar) shows the port still smoldering on May 2nd. A massive crater can be seen among shipping containers destroyed by the explosion, which reportedly shattered windows several kilometers from the port.

State authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, with initial comments from officials pointing generally to a “failure to observe safety procedures” and a “stockpile of hazardous goods and chemical materials stored in the port area” as the reason for the blast. State officials did not offer specifics on which chemicals or items may have caused the incident.

However, CNN has previously reported that the port was a receiving point for hundreds of tons of chemicals essential to fueling Iran’s ballistic missile program. The New York Times reported more specifically that a person with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles, is what exploded at the port.

The incident bears a grim resemblance to the 2020 Beirut port explosion, in which a fire ignited thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate, resulting in an explosion that killed more than 200 people and injured over 7,000.

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