The Israeli military revealed that its air force carried out an attack destroying an aircraft previously used by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. This was described as a move to reduce the strategic capabilities of the Iranian government, as the US-Israel conflict with Iran entered its third week amid escalating tensions across the region.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today (16 Mar) that fighter jets conducted an overnight airstrike targeting the official aircraft of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, which was parked at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran.
The statement said the aircraft was not just a private vehicle but a key asset used by the Iranian regime and senior officials for travel to procure military equipment and to coordinate with allied groups both domestically and internationally. Destroying this plane directly reduces Iran's strategic capacity to replenish forces and expand its military power.
This attack is part of a series of large-scale strikes launched by Israel targeting infrastructure in three major cities: Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz. The conflict between the US-Israel coalition and Iran has been ongoing for over two weeks with no signs of abating.
Tensions heightened when Iran ordered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for transporting one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, severely impacting the global economy and causing a rapid surge in oil prices.
US President Donald Trump called on countries dependent on Persian Gulf oil to send forces to help protect shipping lanes. Trump applied pressure through various means, including threatening to postpone his visit to China if the Chinese government did not provide assistance, and warning NATO allies of a "very bad" future if they failed to help secure these routes.
However, several countries remain hesitant. Japan and Australia have declined to send warships to the Middle East, while the European Union is still deliberating on how to respond to the situation.
The conflict has extended beyond Iran to neighboring countries, with reports of drone attacks in the United Arab Emirates. These attacks led to the suspension of oil loading at Fujairah port due to fires, while flights at Dubai airport have resumed limited operations after disruptions caused by drone strikes.