Israel on Tuesday unveiled detailed images taken by a new reconnaissance satellite over the Roman ruins of Palmyra in neighbouring Syria, an Iranian ally regularly targeted by Israeli air strikes.

The images are the first to be made public since the Ofek 16 satellite was launched in July, with Israeli public radio reporting it would be used to monitor the nuclear activities of Israel’s arch-enemy Iran.

The satellite is an “electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced capabilities”, according to the defence ministry, which said it is testing the device to ascertain its “performance level”.