Large explosions and fires were reported near Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran following a new wave of Israeli airstrikes on the Iranian capital in the early hours of March 7.
Iranian state media said an Israeli strike had hit an area close to the airport, which serves as one of the country’s main international aviation hubs.
Videos circulating on social media showed multiple explosions lighting up the night sky, with thick columns of smoke rising from the area.
Residents living near the airport said they saw what appeared to be commercial aircraft parked on the tarmac catching fire as massive fireballs and heavy smoke filled the air.
Several witnesses also reported powerful blasts shaking parts of the city overnight, with loud explosions heard across Tehran.
Images broadcast by Iranian media showed a large ball of fire and smoke rising from the direction of Mehrabad Airport, visible behind high-rise apartment buildings in the city.
The Israeli military stated that it had carried out an “extensive” series of strikes targeting sites linked to the Iranian government in Tehran.
Residents described the bombardment as the most intense since the conflict began, with some telling international media that it was “the worst night since the war started.”