{"id":2448033,"date":"2025-06-16T18:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T22:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-destroys-at-least-two-rare-f-14-tomcats-in-strike-on-tehran-airport\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T18:01:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T22:01:32","slug":"israel-destroys-at-least-two-rare-f-14-tomcats-in-strike-on-tehran-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-destroys-at-least-two-rare-f-14-tomcats-in-strike-on-tehran-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel destroys at least two rare F-14 Tomcats in strike on Tehran airport"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisrael-destroys-at-least-two-rare-f-14-tomcats-in-strike-on-tehran-airport%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2448033&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Israel&#8217;s air force recently targeted Tehran International Airport, destroying at least two Iranian F-14 Tomcats, as shown in drone footage released by Israel. This operation is part of Israel&#8217;s broader campaign to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-isnt-russias-bomber-fleet-attacking-ukraine-in-mass\/\" title=\"Why Isn\u2019t Russia\u2019s Bomber Fleet Attacking Ukraine in Mass?\">achieve air superiority<\/a> over Iran and facilitate further strikes on strategic sites. The Israeli Defense Forces stated that the F-14s were used for intercepting Israeli aircraft, although satellite imagery suggests they had been out of active service, perhaps serving instead as spare parts for othre jets. Iran&#8217;s air force,historically the weakest branch of its military,has struggled to maintain its aging fleet due to sanctions and the inability to procure new parts. Consequently, many operational F-14s are now more then 50 years old and are utilized primarily for ground support.<\/p>\n<p>The destruction of these jets has drawn attention not only for its military meaning but also as a cultural loss, as the F-14 is often romanticized in popular media. Following the strikes, tensions have escalated, with Iran launching missile attacks on Israeli targets in response to the broader conflict that erupted in recent days, marking a meaningful military escalation in relations between the two nations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Israel destroys at least two rare antiquated F-14 Tomcats in strike on Tehran airport<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2147937\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Israeli\">Israel<\/a>&lsquo;s air force destroyed at least two rare <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Iranian\">Iranian<\/a> F-14 Tomcats in a strike on Tehran International Airport on Monday, footage published by Israel showed.<\/p>\n<p>One of the central goals of Israel&rsquo;s air campaign against Iran is to establish air supremacy over the country, allowing further unimpeded strikes on various strategic targets. On Monday, Israel&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-ignores-law-to-sanction-hamas-and-hezbollah-for-civilian-shield-use-lawmakers-say\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Ignores Law To Sanction Hamas and Hezbollah for Civilian Shield Use, Lawmakers Say\">air force targeted<\/a> a Tehran airfield, publishing infrared footage from a drone showing the destruction of two grounded F-14s.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3443090\/g7-summit-india-canada-seek-joint-intelligence-plan\/\">G7 summit: Canada, India seek joint intelligence plan despite feud over alleged assassination<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3443276\/israel-attack-iran-state-media-headquarters-live-on-air\/\">Israel strikes Iranian state media headquarters while live on air<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3442805\/russia-offers-take-enriched-uranium-iranian-nuclear-facilities\/\">Russia offers to take enriched uranium from Iranian nuclear facilities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Iranian soldiers take a picture with Winnie the Pooh next to a F-14 fighter jet in an exhibition of achievements and equipment of Iran&rsquo;s air force in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (AP Photo\/Ebrahim Noroozi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;A few minutes ago, an Israeli Air Force plane flying over Tehran targeted two F-14 fighter jets at a military base in Tehran. These fighter jets were being used to intercept Israeli Air Force aircraft operating in Iranian skies,&rdquo; the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X, alongside footage of the destruction.<\/p>\n<p>Though the IDF claimed the jets were being used to intercept Israeli aircraft, the planes appeared to be in disuse. Satellite photos from 2022 and 2023 show the aircraft exposed on the runway in nearly the same place. The lack of secondary explosions after they were hit suggests they lacked fuel or ammunition.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"it\" dir=\"ltr\">2 jet iraniani f14 Tomcat (fuori servizio da anni e usati come fonte di pezzi di ricambio, come <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >confermato da immagini satellitari del 2022-2023<\/a>) distrutti da airstrikes israeliani <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RRewP4QBQa\">https:\/\/t.co\/RRewP4QBQa<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/X3DymJSx9Z\">pic.twitter.com\/X3DymJSx9Z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Lord Cutler Beckett (@BacciFrance) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BacciFrance\/status\/1934690928976875967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Iran has been unable to obtain new F-14s or F-14 parts, forcing it to resort to cannibalizing its other F-14s for maintenance. The two aircraft may have been used as spare parts for the other operational aircraft.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&rsquo;s air force has long been the weakest branch of the country&rsquo;s armed forces. It inherited state-of-the-art U.S. fighter jets delivered to the shah, a close U.S. ally. Though the aircraft performed well during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988, the severing of relations with the United States and widespread sanctions forced Iran to stick with its dated aircraft, now over half a century old.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&rsquo;s aircraft are now intended for ground support roles, and few are under any illusions that the air force can compete with Israel&rsquo;s, the most advanced in the region with the latest U.S. technology, including F-35s. Ceding any hopes of air supremacy, Tehran relies on an advanced air defense array and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/satellite-images-show-damage-from-israeli-attack-at-secretive-iranian-military-bases-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Satellite images show damage from Israeli attack at secretive ...ian ...s - Washington Examiner\">extensive ballistic missile arsenal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Navy retired the F-14 in 2006, making Iran the aircraft&rsquo;s only remaining operator.<\/p>\n<p>Other F-14s have likely been destroyed during Israel&rsquo;s air campaign. Among the first strikes targeted was the Mehrabad air base in Tehran, where some air fleet is likely held. Open source intelligence analysts confirmed the fighter jet hangars had been hit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The fighter jet hangers at Mehrabad airbase in Tehran are on fire after Israeli strikes 35.6929737, 51.3388766<\/p>\n<p>Pov 35.6834678, 51.3430099<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FaytuksNetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FaytuksNetwork<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GeoConfirmed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GeoConfirmed<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ylj3mY677s\">https:\/\/t.co\/ylj3mY677s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nekbfyUUI3\">pic.twitter.com\/nekbfyUUI3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Rocket Man&#128640;&#127482;&#127462; (@Grimm_Intel) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Grimm_Intel\/status\/1933676945046216762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The F-14 has become an iconic jet for its unique design and starring role in the <em>Top Gun<\/em> movie series. Aviation enthusiasts expressed their sadness over the destruction of the antique planes with memes online.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"zxx\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Fal4g1Q7or\">pic.twitter.com\/Fal4g1Q7or<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Wiggle Wiggle Vigil (@DaOfficialVigil) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DaOfficialVigil\/status\/1934677250214969496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We may never see an F14 fly again <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kyamHc1zFQ\">pic.twitter.com\/kyamHc1zFQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Slim Pickens (@SLIMPICKENSSHOW) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SLIMPICKENSSHOW\/status\/1933670055947960793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;This is the real war crime, Israel destroying museum pieces. Rip F-14,&rdquo; one user <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DanTalks1\/status\/1934667028025278942\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"joked\">joked<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Only a fraction of the 79 F-14s delivered to Iran by 1979 remain operational. Estimates vary widely, with the <em>War Zone<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/air\/irans-f-14-persian-tomcats-obliterated-in-israeli-airstrike\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"giving estimates\">giving estimates<\/a> of a handful to 25.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3443276\/israel-attack-iran-state-media-headquarters-live-on-air\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"ISRAEL STRIKES IRANIAN STATE MEDIA HEADQUARTERS WHILE LIVE ON AIR\">ISRAEL STRIKES IRANIAN STATE MEDIA HEADQUARTERS WHILE LIVE ON AIR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>War between Israel and Iran broke out for the first time in the early hours of Friday, when Israel launched a massive surprise attack against nuclear and military infrastructure and personnel. Most of Iran&rsquo;s senior military commanders were killed, while targets all across the country were mauled. Iran has responded with waves of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bush-calls-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-gravest-security-crisis-in-europe-since-world-war-ii\/\" title=\"Bush Calls Russian Invasion Of Ukraine \u2018Gravest Security Crisis\u2019 In Europe Since World War II\">ballistic missile strikes<\/a> against Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n<p>Since Friday, 224 Iranians and 24 Israelis have been killed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2147937\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2147937\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Israel&#8217;s air force destroyed two rare Iranian F-14 Tomcats at Tehran airport<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2448034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Iran-F14.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36784,57277,4671,43767,57278],"class_list":["post-2448033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aviation-news","tag-f-14-tomcats","tag-israel","tag-military-strike","tag-tehran-airport"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Iran-F14.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448033"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2448037,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448033\/revisions\/2448037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2448034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}