JERUSALEM — March 7, 2026 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the Israeli Air Force carried out a large coordinated wave of airstrikes against Iranian military infrastructure in Tehran and several central regions of Iran overnight into Saturday, deploying more than 80 fighter jets in one of the most extensive single-operation sorties since the start of the current regional conflict on February 28.
According to the Israeli military, the operation targeted a range of facilities linked to Iran’s military and missile operations. More than 80 fighter aircraft participated in the strikes, releasing approximately 230 munitions against designated targets across multiple locations.
Targets in Tehran and Central Iran
The IDF stated that the strikes focused on infrastructure connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including command facilities, missile infrastructure, and operational support sites.
Among the locations hit was Imam Hossein University in Tehran, a military academy affiliated with the IRGC. Israeli military officials said the facility had been used as an emergency operational asset and assembly complex supporting IRGC activities during the ongoing conflict. The IDF classified the site as a lawful military objective under international law due to its alleged use for active military operations.
Additional targets included a subterranean command center used to coordinate military activities, as well as a ballistic missile storage facility containing bunkers and launch infrastructure. Israeli aircraft also struck several active missile launch sites that, according to the military, were involved in attacks directed toward Israeli territory.
Strike on Mehrabad Airport Facilities
The operation also included strikes near Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. Israeli officials stated that 16 aircraft associated with the IRGC’s Quds Force were dismantled at facilities located within the airport complex.
Mehrabad Airport has been identified by Israeli officials as a logistical hub used by the IRGC for military transport and operational activities. Following the strikes, explosions were reported in parts of Tehran, including areas near the airport, and fires were observed at several sites.
Iranian state-linked media also reported explosions in other locations in central Iran, including the city of Isfahan, although detailed damage assessments were not immediately available.
Operational Objective
In its statement, the IDF said the operation aimed to reduce the volume of missile and drone attacks directed toward Israeli territory by targeting infrastructure linked to launch operations, weapons storage, and command coordination.
Israeli military officials said that striking these facilities was intended to disrupt Iran’s operational supply chain, limit the availability of munitions, and degrade the command structures used to coordinate missile launches.
Part of Broader Military Campaign
Saturday’s air operation is among the largest localized strike waves announced by Israel since the regional conflict began on February 28, 2026.
At the outset of the war, Israel—operating alongside the United States—launched a major preliminary air campaign targeting Iranian military infrastructure. That initial operation involved approximately 200 Israeli fighter jets, striking more than 500 targets across Iran, including air defense systems, missile launchers, and command facilities. Israeli officials described that mission as the largest aerial operation in the history of the Israeli Air Force.
The current strike wave forms part of the ongoing campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, under which Israeli and U.S. forces have continued to target Iranian missile production facilities, storage depots, launch systems, and military command infrastructure.
According to Israeli military statements released during the conflict, hundreds of missile launchers have been destroyed and thousands of sites linked to Iran’s ballistic missile and drone capabilities have been struck since the beginning of hostilities.
Ongoing Regional Escalation
The latest strikes occurred as the conflict entered its second week, with continued exchanges of missile and drone attacks between Iran and Israel.
U.S. Central Command has reported that more than 3,000 targets inside Iran have been struck during the broader campaign, including facilities linked to missile forces, naval assets, and air defense systems.
Israeli officials did not disclose the specific aircraft types used in Saturday’s operation or provide a full assessment of the damage inflicted. No official information was released regarding casualties at the targeted sites.
As of the time of publication, Iranian authorities had not issued a detailed response regarding the strikes, though reports of explosions and fires in multiple locations in Tehran and central Iran were circulating in local media.
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