Israel Destroys Iran’s Only and Unique Boeing 707 Tanker

The Israeli Air Force has conducted a long-range strike on Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran.

Israel’s Defense Forces reported this adding that the Iranian military’s only aerial refueling aircraft — a Boeing 707-3J9C — was destroyed as a result of the strike.

Mashhad is located approximately 2,300 kilometers from Israeli territory, making the operation one of the longest-range airstrikes in Israel’s military history.

The type of weapon used was not disclosed. It is believed the strike was carried out using either a long-range drone, an air-to-ground missile, or an air-dropped munition.

It is possible that the Israeli aircraft entered Iranian airspace, where there was almost no resistance from local air defenses.

According to Israeli military correspondent Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian, the target was Iran’s only aerial tanker, a modified Boeing 707-3J9C.

The IDF confirms it bombed an Iranian refueling plane at Mashhad Airport in northeast Iran, some 2,300 kilometers from Israel, marking the “most distant strike since the beginning of the operation.”

“The Air Force is working to achieve air superiority throughout Iran,” the… https://t.co/MRnitnGPSs

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 15, 2025

The aircraft was unique: it previously served in Iran Air’s civilian fleet and, before that, flew for U.S. carrier Pan Am.

The tanker was used to refuel Iran’s aging fleet of U.S.-made F-14 Tomcat and F-4 Phantom II fighter jets.

Due to the poor technical condition of those aircraft, repeated attacks on their airbases, and Iran’s limited air superiority capabilities, operational use of the tanker has been considered unlikely in recent years.

As a result, the strike may carry more symbolic than operational significance.

The attack comes amid an intensification of Israeli-Iranian strikes on critical energy infrastructure, which has already caused power disruptions in parts of both countries.

According to the latest reports, during the mutual missile attacks, Iran targeted the Haifa oil refinery and Israel’s largest petrochemical complex, also located in Haifa.

In retaliation, Israeli forces have launched multiple airstrikes on targets in Tehran and southern Iran, hitting fuel depots, gas fields — including the strategic South Pars field — and other energy-related infrastructure such as fuel terminals and gas installations.