Death of an Airport Security Officer During Drill at Mehrabad Airport

Three days after the announcement of a drill for 'countering terrorist actions' at Mehrabad Airport, Iranian media reported the death of an airport security officer during this drill, which was later confirmed by the public relations department of the IRGC's protection command. On Tuesday, July 6, the Law newspaper wrote: 'Mehdi Yazdi, an officer of Mehrabad Airport's security, who was injured during the shooting at Mehrabad, has been martyred.' On Saturday, July 3, the security deputy of Tehran's governor announced that the 'counter-terrorism drill' was held in Terminal 4 of this airport. Akbar Ghandlou, the public relations officer of the IRGC's protection command, confirmed the death of guard Mehdi Yazdi from the airport security forces in an interview with Fars news agency, stating that he was injured in the head during the recent security drill at Mehrabad Airport. According to Young Journalists Club, affiliated with state television, Mohsen Hamdani commented on the sound of gunfire heard in Terminal 4 of Mehrabad Airport, stating that on the morning of Saturday, July 3, armed forces conducted a 'limited internal drill' at this airport. The security deputy of Tehran's governor announced that the sound of gunfire was also related to this drill and that 'there is no cause for concern.' According to Mr. Hamdani, following two 'terrorist' incidents in Tehran, security and military forces have conducted drills, and the drill on Saturday was aimed at 'increasing readiness to counter terrorist actions' within the confines of Mehrabad Airport. However, until Tuesday, apart from the Telegram channels of the Iran newspaper and Young Journalists Club, no sources had reported the injury or death of an airport security officer at Mehrabad Airport. A drill to 'test security forces' According to ILNA news agency, images and videos released by passengers and individuals present at the airport indicate that passengers and even airport staff were unaware of the drill and anti-terror operation, creating an atmosphere of fear in one of the terminals of Mehrabad Airport. Subsequently, ISNA news agency quoted an 'informed source,' whose name was not mentioned, stating that this action was conducted without prior notice and 'suddenly' so that 'security forces could be well tested and conditions simulated.' This 'informed source' and the security deputy of Tehran's governor did not provide clarification on whether all security forces inside Terminal 4 of Mehrabad Airport were aware of this drill. Reports indicate that Terminal 4 of Mehrabad Airport is designated for the departure of domestic flight passengers, but according to information published on the airport's flight announcement website, no flights were conducted from this terminal on the morning of Saturday. Since 1984, a unit called the 'Aviation Protection Corps' has been tasked with preventing hijacking and ensuring the security of parts of Iran's airports. Mehdi Yazdi, who was killed during the drill at Mehrabad Airport, is related to this context. The silence of the IRGC regarding the real cause of the death of a protection officer at Mehrabad Airport, the conduct of a 'counter-terrorism' drill at Mehrabad Airport, the arrest of 50 individuals linked to and supporting terrorist groups in Kermanshah, and the Minister of Intelligence stating: 'We dealt a blow to a terrorist team.'