US satellite imagery restrictions leave journalists in the dark on Iran and Gaza

US satellite imagery restrictions leave journalists in the dark on Iran and Gaza Submitted by Gaspard Rouffin on Thu, 08/27/2026 - 08:52 Tightened satellite‑imagery access over the Middle East raises fears conflicts are slipping out of view and pushes journalists toward Chinese and European providers A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman taken by Nasa's Terra satellite on 5 February 2025 (Nasa Earth Observatory/AFP) Off As the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on 28 February and Tehran retaliated on targets across the Gulf, a quieter contest was taking shape over who could access satellite imagery of the war . One week after the initial strikes, US firm Planet Labs, the leading satellite imagery provider, announced it would release Gulf imagery with a four-day delay. Within days, the delay had been extended to 14 days and expanded to most of the Middle East.