The U.S. military struck several Iranian aircraft at the country’s major airbases in recent days, as operations against Iranian military infrastructure and nuclear facilities continue.
Footage released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday showed recent strikes at Kerman Airport in southern Iran destroying a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a Lockheed P-3 Orion, and an Ilyushin Il-76.
The American-made planes were originally supplied to Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
“The Iranian regime is losing air capability day by day. U.S. forces aren’t just defending against Iranian threats, we are methodically dismantling them,” CENTCOM said on X.
The Iranian regime is losing air capability day by day. U.S. forces aren’t just defending against Iranian threats, we are methodically dismantling them. pic.twitter.com/CrJj2nFtHB
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 12, 2026
Satellite images circulating on social media in recent days also show extensive damage to Iran’s military transport aviation at two other airfields.
At Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport, satellite images reveal two C-130 Hercules transports and one Il-76 heavy cargo aircraft destroyed.
🛩️Satellite imagery from March 6th confirms two C-130 Hercules transport aircrafts were destroyed at the Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport in Iran.
Use the slider to compare here: https://t.co/UQTaAzZLdu#Airport #IranIsraelUSWar #Iran pic.twitter.com/qXnWakodu9
— Soar (@SoarAtlas) March 9, 2026
Even heavier losses appear at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, which hosts both civilian and military aviation assets.
Open source reports revealed at least three Boeing 747s and three Il-76 transports destroyed there, along with possible damage to several An-72 transport aircraft and Boeing 707 aerial refueling tankers.
at least 3 IRIAF B747 and 3 IL-76 cargo and tanker aircraft, probably also several An-72 and B707 were destroyed at Mehrabad International Airport https://t.co/rT2398i6dM
— Samir (@obretix) March 7, 2026
Analysts say these losses could significantly affect Iran’s ability to sustain long-distance military operations, given the central role these aircraft play in strategic transport and aerial refueling.
