Israel Strikes Iranian Base, Destroys Aging AH-1 Helicopters

Israeli aircraft executed a targeted strike on an Iranian air base, destroying up to five AH-1J Cobra attack helicopters, according to Israeli media reports citing sources in the Israel Defense Forces.

The helicopters, originally delivered to Iran in the 1970s under the Shah’s regime, have remained nominally in service despite questions about their operational readiness.

They were part of a batch of 202 Bell AH-1J International Cobra aircraft supplied by the United States between 1975 and 1978.

The aircraft saw combat during the Iran–Iraq War, where many were lost in engagements with Iraqi forces.

Only a limited number are believed to remain in the Iranian military inventory today, and their combat effectiveness is considered minimal.

It is unclear what condition the helicopters were in at the time of the strike. However, Iran has been working to modernize the aging fleet through a program led by the Panha state-run aerospace firm. The upgraded models, designated Toufan 1, started flight testing in the late 1990s.

Israeli sources have framed the operation as a demonstration of the country’s ability to conduct precision airstrikes deep within Iranian territory. The Israeli government and the former Trump administration have previously claimed that Israel maintains complete air superiority over Iran.

The strike follows a recent incident in which Iran downed an Israeli Hermes 900 drone equipped with precision-guided munitions.