The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on 16/3 that Ali Khamenei and senior Iranian officials used the aircraft "to advance military procurement and connect with various parties."

The IDF declared the destruction of this "strategic asset" a significant blow to Iran's "coordination capabilities" with proxy groups, hindering Iran's ability to recover.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) destroyed 16 aircraft at Mehrabad airport. The IAF believes Iran's Quds Force, a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, used these planes "to transport weapons and cash to proxy groups, primarily Hezbollah in Lebanon."

According to the Israeli military, Iran deployed several aircraft to decommissioned plane parking areas to mislead Israel's identification capabilities.

Satellite image of Mehrabad airport in Tehran, Iran, on 28/2. Photo: AFP

Satellite image of Mehrabad airport in Tehran, Iran, on 28/2. Photo: AFP

Israeli military officials stated that the ongoing operation against Iran is progressing "on schedule" and even faster than initially anticipated. The operation's objective is not only to eliminate immediate threats but also to weaken Iran's overall strategic military capacity in the future.

The Middle East has been engulfed in conflict since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on 28/2. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at Israeli territory, US bases in the Middle East, and critical energy infrastructure in several Gulf region countries.

Tensions continue to escalate, with Tehran claiming to have launched approximately 4,300 weapons at US and Israeli facilities. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv announced it has "thousands more targets" to strike in Iran.

Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters, Times of Israel)