JERUSALEM / TEHRAN — March 9, 2026 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Israeli Air Force aircraft carried out strikes on Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport overnight on March 6–7, destroying 16 aircraft associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force. The operation was part of a broader wave of Israeli attacks targeting Iranian military infrastructure during the ongoing regional conflict that began on February 28.
Strike on Quds Force Logistics Hub
According to the IDF, the aircraft destroyed at Mehrabad were used by the IRGC’s Quds Force to transport weapons, financial resources, and military equipment to allied militias and partner organizations across the Middle East. Israeli officials described the airport as a key logistical hub used for sustaining Iran’s network of proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Israeli military stated that these aircraft had been used repeatedly in recent years to move arms shipments and funds to regional partners. By destroying the aircraft, Israeli planners aim to disrupt supply routes used to support allied militias operating in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Mehrabad International Airport is a dual-use facility located in western Tehran that handles both civilian flights and military aviation activity. Israeli officials said the operation targeted military assets and infrastructure used by the Quds Force within the airport complex.
Additional Aircraft and Infrastructure Targeted
The IDF reported that the strike also destroyed several Iranian fighter jets located at the airport. Israeli military officials said those aircraft were targeted because they posed a potential threat to Israeli Air Force aircraft conducting operations over Iranian territory.
Additional military infrastructure at the airport was also struck during the operation. The IDF did not specify the types of fighter jets destroyed or the exact facilities damaged, but said the attacks focused on operational assets connected to Iranian military activities.
Satellite imagery reviewed after the strikes indicated damage to at least 17 aircraft positioned at Mehrabad Airport. The Israeli military confirmed that 16 of those aircraft were linked to the Quds Force, though the operational status of each aircraft before the strike has not been publicly detailed.
Video footage circulating on social media following the attack showed destroyed aircraft on the ground and smoke rising from sections of the airfield.
Part of Wider Israeli Air Campaign
The Mehrabad strikes occurred during a large-scale Israeli air campaign targeting military infrastructure across Iran. According to Israeli military statements, more than 80 Israeli fighter jets participated in coordinated operations over Tehran and other locations during the weekend.
During these missions, Israeli aircraft reportedly dropped approximately 230 munitions on multiple military sites. Israeli officials said the campaign targeted missile production facilities, underground command centers, fuel depots, and several air bases.
Among the additional strikes reported by Israel was the destruction of Iranian F-14 fighter jets at an air base in Isfahan. Israeli officials described the operations as part of a broader effort to degrade Iranian military capabilities and reduce threats to Israeli forces.
In total, the IDF said more than 400 targets across Iran were struck during the weekend operations.
Efforts to Limit Civilian Impact
Israeli military officials said the operation at Mehrabad was planned using aerial surveillance and precision-guided munitions to limit potential damage to civilian areas surrounding the airport. Because Mehrabad operates as both a civilian and military facility, Israeli planners said targeting focused on areas used for military logistics and aircraft associated with the Quds Force.
Iranian state media confirmed that explosions and fires occurred at Mehrabad Airport following the strikes but did not immediately release detailed information regarding casualties or the full extent of the damage.
Background of the Quds Force
The Quds Force is the external operations branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is responsible for coordinating Iran’s military and intelligence activities outside the country. The unit oversees support to allied armed groups and militias across the Middle East, including organizations operating in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Israeli officials said the aircraft destroyed in the strike were involved in maintaining supply routes used to transfer weapons and financial resources to these groups.
Ongoing Conflict
The airstrikes occurred during the second week of a widening conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the United States. The escalation began on February 28 and has included missile exchanges and multiple rounds of airstrikes against military infrastructure.
The Israeli military said operations against Iranian military assets are continuing. Iranian forces have also continued launching missile attacks toward Israel in response to the Israeli air campaign.
As of March 9, Iranian authorities have not released a detailed official assessment of losses at Mehrabad Airport or confirmed the number of aircraft destroyed. The situation remains under active monitoring as military operations continue across the region.
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