Overview
- The IDF announced it hit compounds storing F-14 Tomcats at Isfahan’s 8th Tactical Fighter Base and struck detection and air-defense systems that threatened Israeli aircraft.
- Military spokesmen linked the Isfahan attack to a March 6 strike at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport that the IDF says destroyed 16 aircraft used by the IRGC Quds Force.
- Analysts note TFB.8 is believed to host Iran’s remaining F-14s, raising the possibility the strikes eliminated the last operational examples worldwide, though confirmation remains limited.
- Recent reporting recalls that prior Israeli claims about destroying F-14s were disputed as having hit decoys, and open-source tallies in 2025 put about 22 F-14As nominally in service at TFB.8 with varying readiness.
- In parallel, the IDF said it struck more than 400 targets across Iran in the past day, including ammunition bunkers, Tehran sites linked to the regime, and a space and satellite program facility.