IDF Strikes Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, Destroying Dozens of Aircraft in Overnight Aerial Offensive

Israeli jets hit Mehrabad Airport and IRGC drone factories in a massive overnight raid. Learn the impact on Iran's air force and regional military stability.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 10:01 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

A Decisive Strike Against Iranian Air Power

The Israel Defense Forces have announced the successful execution of an expansive aerial campaign targeting the Iranian Air Force and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air divisions. Dozens of Israeli fighter jets participated in the overnight mission, which focused on three key aviation hubs in the Tehran region. According to military statements, the primary objective was to deliver a paralyzing blow to the regime’s ability to deploy manned aircraft and helicopters, effectively grounding a significant portion of the Iranian military's domestic fleet.

Devastating Losses at Mehrabad Airport

Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, a dual-use facility central to Iran’s aviation infrastructure, bore the brunt of the assault. The IDF reported that dozens of aircraft were destroyed on the tarmac and within hangars as Israeli jets targeted planes used for military logistics and combat operations. Beyond the destruction of flight hardware, the strikes focused on the infrastructure necessary for maintaining aerial dominance, specifically identifying sites utilized by the regime’s armed forces for military coordination and deployment.

Infrastructure Neutralization and Command Disruptions

The scope of the operation extended beyond the aircraft themselves to the functional systems of the targeted airfields. Israeli pilots reportedly bombed runways and control towers at Mehrabad and two smaller, adjacent airstrips to prevent any immediate retaliatory sorties or emergency relocations of surviving assets. By neutralizing the command and control architecture of these airports, the IDF claims to have created a significant operational vacuum in the airspace surrounding the Iranian capital.