Israel launches a satellite to expand its surveillance capability throughout Middle East

Israel has launched a new spy satellite that defense officials described as a strategic cornerstone, saying it will strengthen their surveillance capacity across the Middle East in the years ahead.

Military officials and Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the satellite, launched late Tuesday, will enhance Israel’s ability to collect images gathered over Iran during a 12-day war earlier this year.

Over 12,000 satellite images of Iranian territory were collected to direct the strikes, according to Daniel Gold, head of the defence ministry's research and development directorate.

"This is also a message to all our enemies, wherever they may be - we are keeping an eye on you at all times and in all situations," Katz said in a post on X.

In addition to monitoring Iran, Israel gains reconnaissance capabilities in other parts of the Middle East as it conducts what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called a “seven-front war,” with Israeli forces striking targets in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq throughout the 23 months of war in Gaza.

Maj. Gen. Amir Baram said the satellite, called Ofek 19, was part of a broader effort "to maintain persistent, simultaneous surveillance of any point throughout the Middle East.”

The operation "underscored that having advanced observation capabilities in our region is critical for achieving aerial and ground superiority," said Boaz Levy, CEO of state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, which worked on the project alongside the ministry of defence.

Israel joined the club of space powers in 1988 with the deployment of its first Ofek satellite.

Israel’s decades-old space program has expanded its fleet with several satellite launches in recent years and is one of the few nations globally with high resolution monitoring and intelligence gathering capabilities.

The aerospace and defense industry is a pillar of Israel’s economy and the satellite's manufacturer, Israel Aerospace Industries, builds and sells satellites, missile systems, drones and aircraft to Israel as well as countries in Europe, Asia and North America.

Israel's military did not say from where the satellite was launched Tuesday evening.