WEBDESK: Israel has targeted a fighter jet hangar at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, according to Iran’s state run news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The early morning attack led to explosions at the airport, though no major infrastructure was reportedly damaged.
“The attacks caused explosions at the airport but did not affect any runways, buildings or facilities,” IRNA reported.
Iran’s air defence systems responded to the strike. The agency said that Iranian forces engaged in “fending off the hostile attacks at dawn.”
The strike marks a new development in ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both countries remaining on high alert.
On Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched a series of airstrikes under the operation named “Operation Rising Lion.” The mission was aimed at severely damaging Iran’s nuclear capabilities and weakening its military infrastructure. Among the main targets were the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, facilities involved in ballistic missile production, and various military command centers.
Iranian state media and eyewitnesses reported hearing powerful explosions in multiple locations, especially near the high-security Natanz site. The attacks reportedly caused extensive damage and led to the deaths of several senior Iranian figures.
Those killed include Major General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with well-known nuclear scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani.
The strikes were not limited to military objectives. Eyewitnesses and local news sources confirmed that residential areas in northern, western, and central Tehran were also struck. The bombings in these neighborhoods resulted in civilian casualties, including children, sparking widespread mourning and outrage throughout the country.
