JUST IN: Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran Hit by Strikes, Fires Reported at Iran’s Major Domestic Hub
Mehrabad International Airport, one of Tehran’s primary aviation facilities and a key domestic hub co-located with military assets, has been struck amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran. Reports and footage show explosions, thick smoke, and fires at the site, with damage to aircraft and infrastructure confirmed by Iranian state media and international observers.
By Reflecto News Desk
April 7, 2026 | Tehran / Jerusalem
Strikes targeted Mehrabad International Airport in western Tehran, along with other airfields in the capital area. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that its air force hit multiple airports in Tehran Province, including Mehrabad, as part of operations against Iranian military targets. The IDF specifically noted that Mehrabad has been used by the IRGC’s Quds Force and served as a hub for military aircraft and proxy-related activities.
Iranian sources reported loud explosions, columns of black smoke, and fires engulfing parts of the airport, with social media footage showing burning planes on the tarmac. Mehrabad, which primarily handles domestic flights and some official/government aviation, has been struck multiple times during the conflict. Previous attacks reportedly destroyed or damaged military transport aircraft, including assets linked to senior regime figures.
No immediate confirmed casualty figures have been released, though Iranian Red Crescent and state media condemned the strikes on civilian aviation infrastructure. Damage assessments are ongoing, and the airport’s operational status remains unclear.
Strategic Context of the Strike
Mehrabad Airport is dual-use: while serving as Tehran’s main domestic airport, it hosts the 1st Artesh Air Force Tactical Airbase and has been linked by Israel to IRGC operations. The IDF described the strikes as targeting runways, control infrastructure, and dozens of Iranian fighter jets, helicopters, and military aircraft to degrade Iran’s air capabilities and disrupt proxy support networks.
This latest incident fits into a broader pattern of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and dual-use sites, including other Tehran-area airports and infrastructure.
Link to the Wider Iran Conflict
The strike on Mehrabad occurs as tensions remain extremely high:
- President Trump’s deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz has passed, with continued threats of large-scale strikes on power plants and bridges (“Power Plant Day and Bridge Day”).
- Iran maintains selective control over the strait, allowing limited tanker transits while declaring it “will never return to its former state, especially for America and Israel.”
- Recent U.S. operations included the high-risk rescue of a wounded F-15E crew member from deep inside Iran.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed over 14 million Iranians have declared readiness to sacrifice their lives in defense of the country.
- Gulf spillover continues, with fires at UAE facilities from intercepted Iranian attacks.
Humanitarian and Legal Concerns
International observers have raised alarms over strikes on civilian-linked infrastructure. Experts warn that repeated attacks on airports and energy facilities risk disproportionate civilian harm, potentially raising questions under international humanitarian law. Iranian officials have condemned the strikes as attacks on civil aviation.
Reflecto News will continue monitoring damage assessments at Mehrabad Airport, any official statements from Iran or Israel, impacts on Iranian aviation, and developments in the broader conflict including the Strait of Hormuz situation.
FAQs: Strikes on Mehrabad International Airport
Q1: What is Mehrabad International Airport?
Mehrabad is one of Tehran’s main airports, primarily serving domestic flights and some government/official aviation. It is co-located with military airbase facilities.
Q2: Who carried out the strikes?
Israeli Air Force strikes were reported, with references to U.S.-Israeli coordinated operations. The IDF claimed responsibility for targeting military assets at Mehrabad and other Tehran-area airports.
Q3: What damage was reported?
Explosions, fires, smoke, and damage to aircraft and infrastructure. Multiple military planes were reportedly hit or destroyed in various strikes on the airport.
Q4: How does this fit into the ongoing war?
It is part of intensified strikes on Iranian military and dual-use targets amid the broader conflict involving the Strait of Hormuz crisis, U.S. deep incursions, and Iranian retaliation.
Q5: What are the implications for civilian aviation in Iran?
Disruption of domestic flights, potential long-term damage to infrastructure, and heightened safety concerns for air travel in the region.
Sources: IDF statements, Iranian state media (IRIB, Mehr News), international reporting (Times of Israel, Reuters, Anadolu Agency), and eyewitness/social media footage as of April 7, 2026. Details from active conflict zones remain fluid and subject to verification.