Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has officially designated the site where American and Israeli aircraft were downed in early April as a national heritage location. The area, known as Dasht-e Mahyar in the Dasht-e Parzan region of Shahreza County, Isfahan province, has been added to Iran’s list of Sacred Defense heritage sites.
The move comes following an incident on April 6, when American aircraft landed at an abandoned airstrip in southern Isfahan. The operation, referred to in some military circles as "Tabas 2"—a reference to a failed 1980 U.S. rescue mission in Iran—resulted in a strategic defeat for the attacking forces, according to Iranian authorities. Tehran described the event as an important example of the adversaries’ failure to meet operational goals during what it terms an “Epic Fury” operation.
The ministry emphasized that local nomadic tribes played a critical role in repelling the attack. Their resistance, combined with other local environmental and tactical factors, disrupted the operation’s complex plans. Iranian officials noted that the defense efforts were marked by the defenders’ reliance on faith, social cohesion, and familiarity with the terrain, which offset the technological advantages of their opponents.
By registering the site as part of the Sacred Defense heritage, the ministry has sought to preserve the event’s historical significance and reinforce a national narrative focused on resilience and steadfastness. The designation is intended to serve as a reminder of the confrontation and its symbolic value in Iran’s ongoing asymmetric conflict with the United States and Israel.
Officials described the downing of the aircraft over Dasht-e Mahyar as a turning point in Iran’s engagement with U.S. and Israeli military presence, underscoring it as a significant moment in the broader context of resistance. The registration of the site aims to consolidate the memory of this event within Iran’s historical records and to ensure its transmission to future generations.