Israel Destroys Khamenei's Aircraft in Tehran Strike

The Israeli Air Force destroyed an aircraft used by Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during an overnight strike at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport on March 16, 2026, as part of an escalating military campaign against Iranian infrastructure.

The Israel Defense Forces announced the precision strike on Monday, stating that the plane had served senior Iranian officials and military personnel, including Khamenei before his death, for domestic and international travel. According to the IDF, the aircraft facilitated military procurement and coordination with allied nations through its flights. Its destruction, the military said, impairs the Iranian regime's ability to liaise with regional partners, build military capabilities and rehabilitate damaged assets.

This operation formed part of a broader aerial offensive over the previous 24 hours, in which the Israeli Air Force targeted more than 200 sites across western and central Iran. Strikes hit command centers, air defense systems, weapon production and storage facilities, and ballistic missile arrays in cities including Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz and Hamedan. In one notable action in Tehran, the IDF destroyed a compound...