Hezbollah Claims Strike on Sensitive Satellite Facility Near Beit Shemesh | NEW FOOTAGE
Hezbollah targets Israel’s "beating heart" of satellite communications in a rare deep-territory strike. Despite IDF claims of a civilian site, footage reveals major damage to the Haela Valley facility.
Yesterday, Hezbollah announced on March 9 that it had launched a barrage of precision missiles targeting a satellite communications station in the Haela Valley (also known as Emek HaEla or Valley of Elah) near Beit Shemesh, approximately 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem.
The group described the site as a "military satellite communications center" belonging to the Israeli army's communications and cyber defense corps, claiming it plays a critical role in operations, including satellite communications and drone coordination.
Israeli authorities confirmed that a missile struck an open area in the Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, causing damage to infrastructure, but emphasized that the facility is a civilian site operated by the Luxembourg-based European satellite company SES.
The IDF attributed the lack of interception or siren activation to an "isolated failure."
Jewish Breaking News explained:
The IDF concluded its investigation into the failure Monday to intercept two Hezbollah rockets, noting that a technical problem caused the failure and that adjustments had been made to prevent such future mishaps. The IDF also said that the rockets were not made with new technology designed to evade detection.
Footage circulating on social media, including geolocated videos, shows significant structural damage to multiple large satellite dishes at the station, with some collapsed or destroyed.
The israeli censor refused to allow any videos or details of the incident to be published, until today.
Reports indicate the strike involved long-range or ballistic missiles, marking one of Hezbollah's deepest attacks into Israeli territory since the conflict's escalation, roughly 160 km from the Lebanese border.
The Emek HaEla station, equipped with around 120 satellite dishes, supports telecommunications, broadcasting, and data relay services.
While Hezbollah and some reports allege its use for Israeli military purposes, such as secure communications and operational data links, Israeli sources maintain it is purely civilian.
Iranian media described the facility as the "beating heart" of Israeli satellite systems, claiming the attack destroyed key transmitter-receiver modules.
In the same barrage, another rocket landed near Ramla, lightly injuring 16 people.
Hezbollah also reported multiple border attacks on Israeli forces that day.