Iran Says Over Twenty Passenger Aircraft Damaged in US-Israeli Strikes

(MENAFN) Iran says more than 20 civilian passenger planes were significantly damaged during attacks carried out by the United States and Israel, according to the country’s airlines association.

As stated by reports, Maqsoud Asadi Samani, head of the Iranian Airlines Association, dismissed earlier claims that 40 to 60 aircraft had been affected, saying those figures “do not reflect reality.”

He said the confirmed number of heavily damaged aircraft does not exceed 20.

According to reports, Samani also stated that around 95% of Iran’s airport infrastructure remained unaffected by the strikes. He added that the country operates between 250 and 300 passenger aircraft, with roughly 150 in service before the attacks, while others were already grounded for technical reasons. After the damage, he said, about 130 aircraft remain operational.

The claims come after an escalation in military activity between the United States and Israel and Iran beginning on February 28, which Iranian officials say has resulted in thousands of deaths.

Reports also indicate that a temporary truce was reached on April 8, mediated by Pakistan, followed by ongoing preparations for a second round of talks in Islamabad after earlier negotiations on April 12 ended without agreement.

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