Bellingcat Challenge #106 "Shifting Sands" Writeup

This article was automatically translated from Japanese by AI.

Challenge

Bellingcat Challenge #106 “Shifting Sands”

What is the name of the complex built here?

Solution

A large structure in the desert initially made me think of The Line, but checking the map ruled it out.

Searching for terms such as "complex desert from 2013" did not yield any promising information. The phrase “ancient and new” in the challenge and the appearance of the desert in the satellite image suggested Egypt. Searching on that basis led to The Octagon.

Using the coordinates 29°56′16.5″N 31°39′14.1″E from Wikipedia’s article on the State Strategic Command Center, I checked Google Earth’s 2013 imagery and found a view matching the challenge image.

Flag

The Octagon

Source: Google Earth. Captured on September 9, 2026.