Heavy attack on the IRGC's air heart in Tehran; IRGC transport fleet destroyed at Mehrabad Airport
In a heavy attack on the IRGC's air base in Tehran, reports indicate the destruction of a large part of the IRGC's transport fleet at Mehrabad Airport and the escalation of military tensions between Iran and the US and its allies.
Following the escalation of military conflicts in the Middle East, reports indicate widespread airstrikes on the Islamic Republic's military and logistical facilities in Tehran; attacks that are said to have destroyed a significant portion of the Revolutionary Guards' air transport capability at Mehrabad Airport.
According to published reports, on the evening of Sunday, March 15, a new wave of airstrikes targeted Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, which, in addition to domestic flights, is also an important logistical and military base for the Revolutionary Guards. Various sources have announced that several transport and logistical aircraft affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards were destroyed during the operation.
Some reports also indicate that among the destroyed targets was a ceremonial plane used by high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Khamenei; a plane that was used to transport senior officials and special missions.
Satellite imagery analysis reports indicate that several heavy military aircraft, including cargo and tanker aircraft, were destroyed in the attacks. According to these assessments, at least several Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, Il-76 transport aircraft, and other logistics aircraft were destroyed at Mehrabad Airport. These aircraft played an important role in transporting military equipment and troops.
Some reports also indicate that a total of 16 aircraft linked to the IRGC's Quds Force were targeted in the operation. According to military sources, these aircraft were used to transport weapons and financial resources to groups allied with the Islamic Republic in the region.
Military experts believe that the destruction of such a fleet could deal a significant blow to the Revolutionary Guard's logistical capabilities, as these aircraft were considered the backbone of operations to transport military equipment outside Iran's borders.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic's military officials have reacted sharply to the recent developments. A spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters said in a statement that Iran considers the presence of the US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford in the Red Sea a threat to itself.
The statement states that the logistics and service centers of the aforementioned fleet in the Red Sea are considered targets of the Iranian armed forces.
The aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest warship, measuring more than 300 meters in length. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had previously announced that a small fire had broken out in one of the ship's service areas, but the incident had been contained and there was no damage to the ship's main systems.
Mehrabad Airport, one of the oldest airports in Tehran, is known as an important center for military activities in addition to its civilian role. Part of the Iranian Air Force infrastructure, as well as equipment affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard Corps, is located at this airport.
For this reason, this airport has been recognized as one of the most sensitive military points in recent years and has been repeatedly mentioned in security analyses as the main hub for transferring military equipment for the Islamic Republic.
The latest attacks come as military tensions between the Islamic Republic and its regional rivals have escalated in recent weeks. Analysts say the attacks on key Revolutionary Guard infrastructure indicate the conflict has entered a new phase and could spread to the region.
Some observers also believe that a blow to the Islamic Republic's military infrastructure could have a direct impact on the regime's network of proxy forces in the Middle East, a network that has been organized and supported by the Revolutionary Guard Corps for years.
At the same time, many critics of the Iranian government emphasize that the Islamic Republic's regional policies and extensive investment in military activities abroad have exposed the country to such crises and conflicts; crises that ultimately cost the Iranian people.
