‘Central’ Iranian airport targeted in massive attack after Trump warned of ‘complete destruction’

 Missiles rained on Iran Saturday after President Trump warned that the nation could face “complete destruction and certain death.”

The US and Israeli strikes centered on Tehran’s regime targets, such as military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program, as well as the sprawling Mehrabad International Airport.

Footage shared on social media captured a massive fireball and plumes of black smoke billowing from the airport, which housed the headquarters for Iran’s national carrier.

At least 16 military aircraft were destroyed during an Israeli attack on Mehrabad International Airport.AFP via Getty Images

An Israeli attack destroyed 16 Iranian military aircraft that were being used by the Quds Force – the elite wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — to send weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, the IDF said.

The IRGC was using the airport as a “central hub for arming and funding” Iran’s proxies in the Middle East, the IDF claimed, adding that it also targeted several Iranian fighter jets.

Trump promised early Saturday that “Iran will be hit very hard,” and that the US was seeking new military targets to pressure the nation into submission.

“Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behavior, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

It is not yet clear what new targets the President was alluding to.

Israel said it deployed 80 fighter jets to launch strikes on the IRGC’s Shahid Kharrazi barracks in Shahinshahr, and the Najafabad missile base in Isfahan province, according to Israeli media.

Imam Hossein University was also bombed by Israeli warplanes.

The institution is under US sanctions for its affiliation with the IRGC and its involvement in nuclear research.

The IDF announced it had “dismantled” the IRDG Air Force’s air defense situation room, which plays a major role in deflecting missiles launched into the country’s airspace.

The IRGC was flying weapons out of the airport to Hezbollah, the IDF said.AFP via Getty Images

Several ballistic missile storage facilities, an underground missile command unit and a site used to manufacture and launch missiles were also targeted, the IDF said.

Iran retaliated with its own series of strikes on neighboring nations — despite an apology issued by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the ongoing attacks, suggesting Tehran’s political leadership could not exercise full command over the armed forces.

“I should apologize to the neighboring countries that were attacked by Iran, on my own behalf,” the president said.

“From now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

Pezeshkian is a member of the tripartite leadership council overseeing Iran since a Feb. 28 airstrike starting the war, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The IRGC, which controls ballistic missiles, answered only to Khamenei.

The United Arab Emirates said Iran launched as many as 16 ballistic missiles and 121 drones at the country Saturday, with only two drones striking the nation.

One unidentified weapon was intercepted near Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, which briefly clouded the airfield.

The UAE shut down air travel in response to the attacks, leaving some 4,000 Israelis stranded in the country, according to Channel 13.

Israel is considering a “military solution or a special operation” to evacuate the remaining nationals after earlier repatriation flights were canceled due to the ongoing strikes.

About 1,600 Israelis have returned to Israel from the UAE since the war began last week, the outlet reported.

Explosions were also reported in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

A Malta-flagged oil tanker that reportedly ignored warnings by the IRGC Navy not to traverse the Strait of Hormuz was also targeted on Saturday.

The “Prima” exploded into a fireball after it was hit by a suicide drone, the IRGC reported, according to Iranian state media.

Iran has had control of the strait — a vital oil passageway — for eight days and does not permit vessels allied with the US or Israel to pass through.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/07/world-news/irans-mehrabad-airport-set-on-fire-by-idf/