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PlanetLabs halts Middle East imagery amid Iran strikes

Ars Technica •
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Planet Labs is delaying release of satellite imagery from the Middle East for 96 hours after revealing damage to US bases in Iran's attacks. The commercial imaging firm, which operates hundreds of satellites covering Earth daily, cited preventing adversarial use of its data for battle damage assessment. Gulf States, Iraq, Kuwait, and conflict zones will face this restriction, though Iran-specific imagery remains available immediately. The move follows Planet's release of images showing $1 billion radar damage in Qatar and Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, aiming to avoid aiding Iran's military evaluation of strike effectiveness.