Iranian Strikes Damage US Military Aircraft at Jordan Air Base, CBS Reports

Multiple U.S. military aircraft were damaged in overnight Iranian strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, according to CBS News, in a fresh escalation of the widening conflict between Washington and Tehran.

A U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt, popularly known as the “Warthog”, was struck and suffered severe damage, including the loss of one of its wings, according to people familiar with the incident who spoke to CBS News.

About eight F-15 fighter jets also sustained lighter damage in the attack. The aircraft were reportedly later returned to service. No U.S. deaths were reported in connection with the latest strikes on the base.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is a U.S. close-air-support aircraft designed primarily to provide protection and fire support for ground forces. Its distinctive design and heavy armour have earned it the nickname “Warthog.”

According to the CBS report, the aircraft was directly hit during the overnight attack and was left without one of its wings.

Air & Space Forces Magazine, citing people familiar with the incident, independently reported that an A-10 suffered severe wing damage while approximately eight F-15E Strike Eagles sustained minor damage but remained serviceable.

The reported damage provides an indication that at least some Iranian projectiles were able to penetrate the defensive measures protecting the base.

The approximately eight F-15s reportedly suffered relatively minor damage and were subsequently returned to operational service.

The extent of the damage to individual aircraft was not immediately disclosed.

The incident nevertheless represents a significant development because Muwaffaq Salti Air Base is an important U.S. military facility in Jordan and has repeatedly come under attack during the conflict.

U.S. and Jordanian air defences have intercepted numerous Iranian missiles and drones targeting the kingdom, but the latest incident suggests that some incoming weapons were able to reach the base.

CBS News also reported that U.S. forces in Jordan fired more than 30 Patriot interceptor missiles while attempting to defend against the Iranian attack.

The heavy use of Patriot missiles comes amid wider concerns over the availability of U.S. air-defence interceptors and other precision-guided munitions as the conflict continues.

The attack occurred shortly after the United States said it had struck five Iranian oil tankers, describing the operation as retaliation for attacks on a U.S. Navy vessel.

Iran subsequently claimed that it had launched attacks against American and other targets in the region, including the U.S. base in Jordan.

The latest attack adds to mounting pressure on American forces deployed across the Middle East as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues to expand.

Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has previously been targeted during the conflict. CBS has reported that the base had come under repeated attacks, with some Iranian missiles managing to evade U.S. and Jordanian air-defence systems.

The reported damage to U.S. aircraft is likely to intensify scrutiny of the effectiveness and sustainability of American air-defence operations in the region.

It also comes as Washington faces broader military pressures from attacks on its forces and the disruption of shipping and energy supplies linked to the wider conflict.

Despite the reported aircraft damage, there were no immediate reports of U.S. fatalities from the latest attack on the Jordanian base.

The U.S. military has not publicly provided a full assessment of the reported aircraft damage, and details about the weapons that struck the aircraft have not been released.

Iranian claims about military damage in the conflict have previously been disputed by U.S. officials, making independent verification of battlefield claims particularly important.

For now, the reported destruction of the A-10 and damage to multiple F-15s marks another indication of the growing risks faced by American military installations across the Middle East.

As the conflict continues, the ability of U.S. and allied forces to protect aircraft, personnel and bases from repeated missile and drone attacks is expected to remain a major concern.