Israel has conducted an unprecedented surveillance campaign over Iran, capturing tens of millions of images via its satellites before and throughout the recent conflict, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry.
The ministry reported that its sophisticated satellite network covered tens of millions of square kilometers through continuous day-and-night monitoring, gathering over 12,000 high-resolution images of Iranian territory.
With Iran’s landmass covering roughly 1.6 million square kilometers, and the focus of the Israeli surveillance centered around the Tehran region and western parts of the country, large portions had to be photographed repeatedly to ensure comprehensive coverage.
This level of observation meant that Israeli satellites were keeping tabs on hundreds of different locations each day, the ministry noted.
Altogether, the satellite fleet was monitoring hundreds of thousands of square kilometers across Iran every single day.
Thanks to major advancements in Israel’s satellite capabilities—both in quality and in volume—the Jewish state has transitioned from relying on occasional snapshots for general intelligence to being able to track numerous sites throughout Iran in real time with tactical and operational precision.
These real-time capabilities enabled satellites to provide data that directly influenced Israel Air Force missions mid-operation, particularly by identifying missile launches and changing flight plans accordingly.
The technology also allowed for rapid evaluation of strike effectiveness, offering immediate insight into whether a target had been successfully neutralized.
Additionally, this intelligence helped determine whether further aerial missions were needed for specific targets, especially when dealing with complex sites, by identifying which parts of a structure had been damaged and which required follow-up strikes.
Throughout the confrontation with Iran, Israel benefited from newer satellite technologies, most notably the Ofek 13, which began operations in March 2023 and delivered clearer, more accurate surveillance than previous models.
The Ofek 13 was jointly developed by the Defense Ministry and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and was launched via a Shavit 2 rocket from a site in central Israel.
At the time of the launch, Avi Berger, who heads the Defense Ministry’s Space Directorate, stated, “The launch was successful. It went according to plan. The first indications from the satellite are also excellent. In the coming weeks, we will complete the technical tests and receive the first images.”
Beyond the Defense Ministry and IAI, the Ofek 13’s development was a collaborative effort that included various units of the Israel Defense Forces, notably the 9900 intelligence unit and the air force.
At the time, Berger had also remarked, “Ofek 13 is a radar-based observation satellite with the most advanced capabilities of its kind in the world, all of which are the result of Israeli development.”
{Matzav.com Israel}