Israel targets Iran with new spy satellite

Israeli defence officials hailed the launch of a new spy satellite on Thursday, which they said would boost the country's capacity to monitor the military manoeuvres of Iran and militant groups opposed to the Jewish state's existence.

The Ofek 10 was said to have entered orbit before dawn after being launched from a Shavit launcher at an air force test base in central Israel at 10.15pm local time (8.15pm) on Wednesday. It is the latest in a series of satellites Israel has launched into space and the first in nearly four years – with six of the others currently still in orbit.

Built under the auspices of the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries and the Israeli defence ministry, the new all-weather device is being billed as an advance on the country's existing surveillance capabilities when it becomes operational in a few months time.

“The Ofek 10 satellite should improve Israel's intelligence capability and allow the defence establishment to better deal with threats near and far,” said Moshe Ya'alon, the Israeli defence minister. “We are continuing to strengthen our tremendous qualitative and technological advantage over our neighbors.”

Israel is known to be particularly concerned with improving its surveillance abilities on Iran's nuclear programme, which Israeli officials insist is a front for building an atomic bomb. Iran denies the charges and says its nuclear activities are peaceful.