European Broadcasters Say Syria, Iran Jamming News

Iran has a history of clamping down on foreign satellite news broadcasts. (file photo)

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) says Syria and Iran appear to be behind the deliberate jamming of EU and U.S. satellite news services in parts of the Middle East.

In a statement issued on October 22, the union compared the interference to an "attack on media independence."

The Geneva-based EBU said broadcasters who had been affected included the BBC, France 24, Deutsche Welle and the Voice of America.

EBU -- an alliance of public service media organizations in 56 countries -- said the problems "may link" to French satellite provider Eutelsat taking 19 Iranian channels off air recently, to comply with tougher EU sanctions against the Islamic state.

Eutelsat broadcasts to more than 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP