Overview
- The Israeli Air Force said an overnight strike at Mehrabad Airport destroyed Airbus A340-300 EP-IGA, a government jet long used for VIP transport.
- Independent confirmation is pending, with outlets noting the claim relies on Israeli statements and analysts seeking satellite imagery.
- Open-source researchers geolocated footage of explosions to Mehrabad’s western hangar area where the VIP jet was known to operate.
- The IDF described the aircraft as a strategic tool for military procurement and ties with allied groups, asserting its loss would degrade Iran’s coordination and rebuild capacity.
- The reported hit comes as Israel claims 200-plus strikes across Iran and signals weeks of continued operations, with Mehrabad already showing runway blockages and losses including the sole KC-747 tanker.