Islamic Revolutionary Guard Mi-171 Destroyed

An IRGC Mi-17 helicopter was destroyed in an Israeli Air Force precision strike at Sanandaj Airport in Kurdistan province, western Iran, on March 18, 2026. The IDF released footage of the strike, showing the helicopter being hit while parked on the airport apron. The attack was part of Israel's ongoing Operation Roaring Lion campaign to degrade Iranian military aviation assets across the country. The strike came as the IAF expanded operations into western Iran, targeting IRGC air and ground assets in the Hamadan and Kurdistan regions. No casualties were reported from the strike.