On Tuesday night, September 2, 2025, Israel took a decisive leap in both its military and technological reach by successfully launching the Ofek 19 surveillance satellite into orbit, marking a new chapter in the nation’s ongoing security efforts across the Middle East. The launch, carried out with a three-stage Shavit launcher from a testing site in central Israel, was attended by high-ranking officials, including President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, Dr. Danny Gold, and Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), according to Israel Hayom.
The Ofek 19 satellite, described by Israeli officials as a sophisticated radar intelligence platform, quickly entered its designated orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers (310 miles) and began transmitting its first data back to Earth. Engineers and defense personnel are now conducting a series of tests to ensure the satellite’s full operational readiness, with command set to be transferred to the Israel Defense Forces’ Unit 9900—its visual and geospatial intelligence unit—once those checks are complete, as reported by i24NEWS.
The timing of the launch was anything but coincidental. On the very same day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officially launched a ground operation in Gaza City, the last Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the nation, underscored the broader context of these moves: “We are working to defeat Hamas, but along the way we have worked wonders together because we broke the Iranian axis; both in Gaza, in Lebanon with Hezbollah, and with the Assad regime that collapsed. Also, with Iran itself that posed existential threats to us, and we removed them together, and now also with the Houthis. But what began in Gaza must end in Gaza.”
Netanyahu’s remarks reflect the multi-front nature of Israel’s current security challenges. The IDF called up approximately 33,000 reservists for the Gaza operation, though several thousand have yet to report due to family and business obligations—a point the prime minister and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir acknowledged with gratitude and understanding. “We have already begun the ground operation in Gaza, make no mistake,” Zamir said. “We are already entering places we have never entered before and operating there with courage, strength, valor, and an extraordinary spirit. I want to tell you that nowhere does the IDF offer anything less than decisive victory.”
The Ofek 19 satellite’s arrival is seen as a critical force multiplier. Avi Berger, head of the Space Program Office at the Israel Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense Research and Development, explained, “With Ofek 19’s groundbreaking technology, we provide Israel with new operational capabilities and enable us to maintain our operational superiority in space. The Swords of Iron war and Operation Rising Lion clearly emphasize the strategic importance of the capability we developed and launched into space, confronting warfare across seven active arenas simultaneously.”
This sentiment was echoed by Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, who told Israel Hayom that the satellite “adds new capabilities, an eye in the sky, expanding control of the Middle East from space.” He noted that IAI had completed two launches within two months, positioning Israel as a global space power with advanced capabilities. “If we add missile intercepts in space, we can see how space is becoming a critical dimension in warfare,” Levy added.
The Ofek 19 satellite is part of a long-term program that began in 1988, when Israel became the eighth country in the world to achieve independent space-launch capability. Today, Israel is one of only 13 nations with such technology, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, China, and others. According to i24NEWS, the satellite was developed based on experience gained from earlier Ofek observation satellites, and its successful deployment highlights Israel’s commitment to maintaining technological superiority in the region.
During recent conflicts, especially the 12-day war between Israel and Iran two months ago, Israeli satellites played a pivotal role. Over 12,000 satellite images of Iranian territory were collected to guide strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites more than 1,000 kilometers away, according to Daniel Gold, head of the defense ministry’s research and development directorate. These capabilities proved vital during Operation Rising Lion, which Israeli officials described as the country’s first “space war.” The satellites enabled target generation, pre-strike reconnaissance, and post-strike assessments, providing real-time intelligence from orbit directly to military units on the ground and in the air.
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, Director General of the Ministry of Defense, emphasized the evolving nature of modern warfare, stating, “The Swords of Iron War, particularly Operation Rising Lion, demonstrated that modern warfare extends into space. Expanding and strengthening our foothold in space is a central objective in the ministry's strategy. In the coming decade, we will invest billions in deploying a satellite constellation that will allow us to maintain persistent, simultaneous surveillance of any point throughout the Middle East.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking on X (formerly Twitter), framed the Ofek 19 launch as a clear warning to Israel’s adversaries: “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 every situation.” He added, “Let’s cooperate with these capabilities for a better shared future for all of us.”
Yet, the satellite’s launch and the Gaza operation unfold against a backdrop of international diplomatic maneuvering. Belgium announced it will recognize a Palestinian state at this month’s United Nations General Assembly, but only if Hamas returns all 48 hostages and is removed from power in Gaza. In the meantime, Belgium plans to impose sanctions on Israel. Responding to this, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated, “We have no intention of establishing a Palestinian state, that would clearly be a terrorist state. We already tried, by the way, 20 years ago, when we completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip, dismantling all our settlements, dismantling all our military bases, even the graves in the cemeteries. Afterwards, it clearly became the emergence of the most dangerous terrorist kingdom in the world. We will not do it again. We have learned the lesson.”
The Ofek 19 satellite is designed to provide intelligence around the clock, in all weather conditions, and is just one component of Israel’s growing satellite constellation. Defense officials highlighted that a wide array of satellites is now required to maintain continuous coverage over the Middle East—a vision that once seemed like fantasy but is rapidly becoming reality. As more than 50 countries worldwide now maintain dedicated defense space budgets, Israel’s technological edge continues to shape the region’s security landscape.
With Ofek 19’s successful launch and the IDF’s renewed ground operations, Israel is signaling a new era of intelligence-driven defense, where space is not just the final frontier, but the next critical battleground.
