Israel Strikes Mashhad International Airport in Northeastern Iran
In its deepest strike to date, the IDF targeted Mashhad Airport in NE Iran, destroying a critical aerial refueling tanker. The long-range operation aims to secure aerial superiority following the confirmed death of Ayatollah Khamenei. Black flags of mourning raised at Imam Reza shrine.
Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on Mashhad Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport in northeastern Iran early Sunday, marking the first reported attack on the country's second-largest city since the escalation of hostilities began.
The strikes targeted an Iranian aerial refueling aircraft at the airport, approximately 2,300 kilometers from Israel, representing one of the deepest penetrations into Iranian territory during the current conflict.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the operation as part of efforts to establish aerial superiority over Iranian airspace.
Initial reports indicate the strikes occurred in the afternoon local time, with the IDF confirming the destruction of the refueling plane.
Iranian state media claimed no damage to the airport's buildings or runway, though independent verification remains limited.
Social media accounts and local sources reported explosions and potential disruptions at the facility, a key hub in Khorasan Razavi Province.
Mashhad, home to the Imam Reza shrine—a major Shiite pilgrimage site—has seen mourning activities, including the raising of a black flag over the shrine following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.