TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 Satellite operator SES said a missile \u201ctargeted and struck\u201d its teleport facility in Israel March 9 as tensions spill across the region amid ongoing Israeli and U.S. military operations against Iran.<\/p>\n
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\u2019ela.<\/p>\n
\u201cPower, internet connectivity, and all services not dependent on the impacted antennas continue to operate normally,\u201d SES said March 11 via email.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe activated our business continuity plan and are working closely with customers. Restoration paths are in place, with recovery activities already underway.\u201d<\/p>\n
The site is one of 45 teleports worldwide<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n SES pointed to \u201csignificant back-up and redundancy capabilities\u201d but declined to provide more details about them or the site, which it said is a commercial facility, although it also serves government customers.<\/p>\n Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, said in a statement released through an affiliated media outlet<\/a> that it targeted the Emek Ha\u2019ela site, describing it as belonging \u201cto the Cyber Defense and Communications Division of the Israeli enemy army.\u201d<\/p>\n