The Israeli military said on Monday that it had destroyed an aircraft once used by Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during an overnight strike on Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, according to a report by Reuters. The attack was part of the ongoing escalation in the conflict involving Israel, Iran, and the United States.
According to the Israeli military, the aircraft had previously been used by senior Iranian officials and military leaders for both domestic and international travel. It was also reportedly used to coordinate diplomatic and strategic engagements with allied countries. The destruction of the aircraft was presented by Israeli authorities as part of their broader efforts to target Iranian state and military assets.
Mehrabad Airport, where the strike occurred, is one of Tehran’s oldest and most important aviation facilities. While the airport primarily handles domestic and regional flights, it also functions as a dual-use site where both civilian operations and military assets are present. Despite the development of newer international airports in Iran, Mehrabad remains the country’s busiest hub for domestic air travel.
In a separate development linked to the ongoing conflict, a densely populated residential complex in the Iranian city of Arak was reportedly struck by missiles in an attack attributed to the United States and Israel. According to Iran’s state-run Press TV, the strike hit an area close to residential buildings, and images circulating after the incident showed damaged structures and several vehicles shattered by the blast.
Another major incident occurred in the United Arab Emirates, where the Port of Fujairah was targeted again in a drone attack amid the intensifying regional tensions. According to sources cited by Reuters, the strike triggered a fire in the emirate’s petroleum industrial zone. As a precaution, oil loading operations at the port were temporarily suspended.
The Port of Fujairah holds strategic importance in global energy supply chains. Located on the Gulf of Oman just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the port serves as a key export point for the United Arab Emirates’ Murban crude oil. Approximately one million barrels of oil per day are shipped through Fujairah, representing roughly one percent of global oil demand. Any disruption to operations there can therefore have significant implications for global energy markets.
Meanwhile, reports also indicated that US fighter jets targeted military facilities near the Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone in southeastern Iran. According to Al Jazeera, citing a report from Voice of America’s Persian service, loud explosions were heard in mountainous areas behind the zone following the reported strikes. The attacks were said to be directed at military infrastructure in the vicinity.
In another development affecting regional infrastructure, Dubai International Airport temporarily suspended flight operations after a drone strike occurred near a fuel storage facility. The airport halted arrivals and departures for approximately seven hours as a safety precaution.
The disruption caused significant travel delays and affected flights across the region before airport authorities gradually resumed operations. Flights began returning to normal schedules later after officials assessed the situation and ensured that safety conditions had been restored.
These developments highlight the widening impact of the conflict across the Middle East, affecting military targets, civilian infrastructure, global energy routes, and international aviation operations.
