Massive blow for Iran: Israel destroys five attack helicopters in major airstrike | VIDEO

Jerusalem: The Israeli military on Wednesday announced it had destroyed five Iranian AH-1 attack helicopters in a targeted airstrike on a military base in Iran’s western Kermanshah region. The Israeli Air Force released black-and-white footage showing the helicopters being blown up on the tarmac.

The helicopters, identified as Bell AH-1 SuperCobras, purchased by Iran under the Shah era, were reportedly being prepared to intercept Israeli aircraft operating in Iranian airspace, according to the Israeli military. Iran, which remains under broad international sanctions, continues to operate the decades-old aircraft due to its limited access to new weaponry.

The strikes come amid a sharp escalation in hostilities. Explosions were reported in Tehran early Wednesday as Israeli jets pounded key military sites, including a uranium centrifuge facility and a missile component plant. Iran responded with a limited missile barrage, though no casualties have been reported.

A spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry warned that any U.S. involvement in the conflict would trigger “an all-out war” in the region. Iran has not yet officially commented on the reported loss of its helicopters.

Meanwhile, Iran appears to have successfully downed an Israeli drone over the Isfahan area in the Islamic Republic on Tuesday.

Footage broadcast by Iran's state broadcaster shows what appears to be a crashed Israeli Air Force Hermes 900.

However, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has not commented. It has previously denied Iranian claims, not backed by any evidence, of shooting down Israeli aircraft.