Missile strike hits SES teleport in Israel

TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite operator SES said a missile “targeted and struck” its teleport facility in Israel March 9 as tensions spill across the region amid ongoing Israeli and U.S. military operations against Iran.

The Luxembourg-based company said a small portion of the geostationary antenna field was damaged, adding that no injuries were reported and the impact did not affect the main facility at Emek Ha’ela.

“Power, internet connectivity, and all services not dependent on the impacted antennas continue to operate normally,” SES said March 11 via email.

“We activated our business continuity plan and are working closely with customers. Restoration paths are in place, with recovery activities already underway.”

The site is one of 45 teleports worldwide that SES operates to provide gateway connectivity and control for its broadband and TV broadcast satellites in geostationary orbit. It also has nine teleports dedicated to broadband satellites in medium Earth orbit.

SES pointed to “significant back-up and redundancy capabilities” but declined to provide more details about them or the site, which it said is a commercial facility, although it also serves government customers.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, said in a statement released through an affiliated media outlet that it targeted the Emek Ha’ela site, describing it as belonging “to the Cyber Defense and Communications Division of the Israeli enemy army.”

However, Israeli news reports say the facility was privatized in 2008 after the country’s government established the site in the early 1970s.

The strike highlights the risks that come with satellite networks increasingly serving commercial and government customers as dual-use infrastructure, while underlining the importance of redundancy as space assets become more strategic.