Israel Says Strike Destroyed Aircraft Used By Iran’s Leadership At Tehran Airport

The Israeli military said on Monday that it had destroyed an aircraft believed to be used by Iran’s senior leadership at Mehrabad Airport.

The Israel Defence Forces stated that the strike could weaken coordination between Tehran and allied groups operating across the region.

The military said that high-ranking political and military officials used the aircraft for both domestic and international travel.

Authorities identified the aircraft as an Airbus A340 that previously transported Masoud Pezeshkian and, in earlier years, Ali Khamenei to diplomatic engagements abroad.

Israeli officials said destroying the plane could disrupt communication between Iran’s leadership and allied organisations, slow military expansion efforts, and limit the country’s ability to rebuild damaged capabilities.

Iranian authorities did not immediately confirm the incident.

Situated in western Tehran, Mehrabad Airport is among Iran’s oldest aviation facilities. While Imam Khomeini International Airport handles most international long-haul flights, Mehrabad remains the busiest domestic airport in the country and also hosts installations associated with the Iranian Air Force.

The Israeli military also reported conducting strikes in several Iranian cities, including Shiraz and Tabriz, as the joint US–Israel campaign against Iran entered its seventeenth day.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation could face a ‘very bad’ future if its allies fail to support efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Speaking in an interview with the Financial Times, Trump called on European nations to join US operations aimed at safeguarding the key maritime route, stressing that Europe benefits significantly from trade passing through the strait.

He further argued that the United States had earlier supported Europe during the Russia–Ukraine War, adding that Washington now expects reciprocal assistance from its allies.

Also Read: Jaishankar Thanks Armenia For Helping Evacuate 550 Indians From Iran