Thursday, 17 December 2009

France poised to launch spy satellite, helps tighten anti-Hamas blockade

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report

December 17, 2009, 10:30 PM (GMT+02:00)

An iron wall in construction to block Hamas tunnels

An iron wall in construction to block Hamas tunnels

France is extending its Middle East commitments.

The French spy satellite Helios 2B was scheduled for launching from French Guinea Thursday, Dec. 17, but postponed shortly before liftoff, DEBKAfile's military and intelligence sources report. Designed for real-time battlefield intelligence-gathering, it will also monitor events in Iran.

French officers are also working with Americans and Egyptians on the Iron Blind project for blocking Palestinian arms smuggling tunnels into Gaza.
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