Algerian press accuses Israel of spying on military installations

 Israel is using its spy satellites Ofek 6 and 7 to spy on Algerian military, and other vital, installations, the local newspaper Algeria News, known for its reliable sources, reported on Wednesday.

It said that Ofek-6 was taking accurate photos of the Algerian air base in Umm Bawaki, which is considered the biggest air base in Africa.

Ofek-6 had previously taken images of the two Algerian nuclear reactors Noor and Salam, which were both put under supervision of the international atomic energy agency. Israel still claims, however, that they are being used for non-peaceful purposes.

The paper noted that Israel’s Ofek-7 was taking precise images of a number of Algerian military installations including army barracks.

It quoted Algerian sources as saying that such Israeli espionage took an upward surge after Algiers concluded a number of major arms deals especially with Russia that made it the third on the Arab and African levels as far as armament is concerned.