Israel Destroys Khamenei’s Personal Aircraft at Tehran Airport
X / @posted_news
The Israeli Air Force struck and destroyed the personal aircraft of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran overnight, the IDF confirmed. The aircraft had been used by Khamenei and senior Iranian military officials for domestic and international travel and to coordinate with allied nations and proxy groups across the region.
Video allegedly taken during the strike on the VIP Iranian A340 Airbus in Mehrabad airport geolocates the strike at the western hangars complex which is close to the AA defenses and has access to the open southern runway.
Rough Point of Impact (POI) #geoposted 35.69465,51.271681 pic.twitter.com/zFBPfCZnPa— OSGINT (@posted_news) March 16, 2026
The IDF described the aircraft as a strategic asset whose destruction degrades Iran’s ability to coordinate with proxy organizations, build military capability, and manage its rehabilitation efforts following the ongoing campaign against its defense infrastructure.
A Target Hidden in Plain Sight
Mehrabad is one of Tehran’s oldest airports and currently serves as the city’s primary domestic and regional aviation hub. It is also a dual-use facility housing Iranian Air Force assets alongside civilian operations, making it a consistent target throughout the campaign.
The runway at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport has been blocked with parked buses and helicopters, apparently to make it unusable and prevent further strikes or aircraft operations.
Satellite imagery from March 7 also shows visible damage at the airport following heavy bombing during… pic.twitter.com/GyG8NB2LCo
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 12, 2026
Earlier this month the IAF struck and destroyed 16 additional aircraft at the same airport. Those aircraft were used by the Quds Force, the extraterritorial operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to transport weapons and cash to proxy groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian officials had attempted to complicate Israeli targeting by moving several of those aircraft into storage areas designated for out-of-service planes, effectively trying to hide operational aircraft among decommissioned ones. The concealment effort did not prevent the strikes.
