Israel hits aerial refueling plane in Iran’s Mashhad in ‘longest-range strike’

The Israeli military said it struck an aerial refueling aircraft at an airport in Mashhad in northeastern Iran on Sunday, describing it as its longest-range attack since launching operations against Iran last week.

“A short while ago, the IAF (Israeli Air Force) struck an Iranian aerial refueling aircraft at Mashhad airport in eastern Iran, approximately 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) from Israel,” adding it was “the longest-range strike conducted since the beginning of the operation” that began Friday.

Iran’s state-linked Tasnim news agency reported an explosion near Mashhad’s Shahid Hasheminejad Airport, adding that “no damage was caused to the airport’s buildings or runway.”

Mashhad is home to the Imam Reza shrine, the holiest site in Iran for Shia Muslims.

Israeli attacks have killed top Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists, and struck military bases, nuclear sites and residential areas across the country.

Iran has since unleashed a barrage of missile strikes on Israel, leaving at least 10 Israelis dead overnight Saturday-Sunday and dozens more wounded.

Citing two US officials, Reuters reported on Sunday that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in recent days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that regime change in Iran could be a result of Israel’s military attacks,

Netanyahu, speaking to Fox’s Bret Baier on his “Special Report” program in one of his first interviews since Israel’s attacks on Iran began on Friday, said he had informed Trump ahead of the attacks.