The Israeli military said it destroyed an aircraft used by Iran’s top leadership at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, claiming the strike would disrupt coordination between Iranian officials and allied groups across the region.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the aircraft had been used by senior political and military figures for both domestic and international travel. The military said eliminating the plane would hinder communication between Iran’s leadership and its regional allies, slow Tehran’s military buildup, and limit its ability to restore damaged capabilities.

According to Israeli officials, the aircraft was an Airbus A340 that had previously transported senior leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and, in earlier years, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, for diplomatic engagements abroad.

Iranian authorities had not immediately confirmed the strike, according to media reports.

Mehrabad Airport, located in western Tehran, is one of the capital’s oldest aviation hubs. Although Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport handles most long-haul international flights, Mehrabad remains Iran’s busiest domestic airport and also hosts several military facilities, including units of the Iranian Air Force.

The Israeli military also said it carried out additional strikes Monday targeting infrastructure in the Iranian cities of Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its 17th day.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that NATO could face a “very bad” future if allies fail to support efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, a crucial global oil shipping route.

In a phone interview with the Financial Times, Trump urged European allies to join US operations aimed at protecting navigation in the waterway, arguing that Europe benefits heavily from the energy supplies passing through it.