TEHRAN: The Sorayya satellite, launched into a 750-kilometer orbit by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, successfully transmitted its inaugural signal to Earth.
Developed by the Iran Space Research Institute, this telecommunication satellite represents a significant milestone as it is the first time Iran has positioned a satellite in an orbit 750 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
Sorayya boasts a lifespan exceeding three years, and its upgraded orbit, coupled with a GPS position accuracy of 20 meters, underscores its advanced capabilities, according to Tehran Times.
The success of this mission not only places the satellite into operational conditions but also serves as a crucial step in testing various subsystems developed by the Space Research Institute.
Anticipated to pave the way for accelerated development in Iran’s domestic space industry, this achievement signifies a vital progression in enhancing the nation’s capacity to deploy satellites into higher orbits.
Meanwhile, in another development, in a tragic event on Saturday, Damascus, the capital of Syria, was the target of an Israeli airstrike, resulting in casualties, including five Iranian military advisors. The attack, reportedly carried out by fighter jets associated with the Zionist regime, has escalated tensions in the region.
The Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed the airstrike and provided details about its aftermath.
According to the statement, “Several Syrian forces and four Iranian military advisors” lost their lives in the attack. The individuals who tragically perished were identified as Hojatollah Omidvar, Ali Aghazadeh, Hossein Mohammadi, Saeed Karimi, and Mohammad-Amin Samadi. Tehran Times reported this development on Sunday.
Iran is anticipated to retaliate for the attack. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf strongly condemned the incident, stating, “A strong and appropriate response from Iran awaits the Zionists.”
The IRGC denounced the actions of the Zionist regime, describing it as a “sinister and criminal invasion” of Syria’s capital, marking a renewed escalation in the longstanding tensions in the region.
Earlier reports from local Syrian sources indicated an explosion in western Damascus, supported by images illustrating the aftermath. Syrian state media, SANA, verified the explosion, suggesting it resulted from precision-guided Israeli missiles targeting a multi-story building in the western Damascus neighborhood of Mazzeh.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
