Iran Strike Damages U.S. Aircraft
PHOTO CAPTION: A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II refuels over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during Operation Epic Fury on March 9, 2026. The aircraft pictured is not the A-10 damaged in the Sept. 8 attack.
An Iranian missile attack on a key U.S. air base in Jordan damaged roughly eight F-15 fighter jets and an A-10 Thunderbolt II, according to new reporting on the aftermath of the strike.
The attack hit Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on Sept. 8, but details about damage to American aircraft emerged afterward and continued spreading into Sept. 10. Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that people familiar with the situation confirmed the damage after CBS News first reported it.
The roughly eight F-15E Strike Eagles sustained relatively minor damage and were considered serviceable afterward. The A-10, however, suffered substantially more serious damage to one of its wings.
Reuters, citing CBS reporter Jennifer Jacobs, reported Sept. 10 that the A-10 was struck and left with a missing wing, while the approximately eight F-15s were returned to service.
No U.S. fatalities have been reported from the attack on the Jordanian base.
The strike came after U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Sept. 8. Iran then launched ballistic missiles toward American targets in Jordan as part of the retaliation.
Jordan's military initially said its air defenses intercepted 18 ballistic missiles, while two others landed in unpopulated areas. Later reporting revealed that American aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti had nevertheless suffered damage during the attack.
Muwaffaq Salti has become an important hub for U.S. air operations in the region. Air & Space Forces reported that dozens of American military aircraft operate from the installation, including aircraft supporting ongoing operations against Iran.
The base has also faced deadly attacks during the current conflict. Three U.S. Army soldiers were killed there during a missile attack in July, according to Air & Space Forces.
The latest damage is notable because the majority of the Iranian missiles were reportedly intercepted, yet the attack was still able to damage multiple frontline American combat aircraft on the ground.
The F-15Es were apparently able to return to service despite the damage. The condition and future of the damaged A-10 were not immediately clear from the reporting available Thursday morning.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, is one of the Air Force's most recognizable aircraft and has been used extensively for close air support and strike missions.
The newly disclosed aircraft damage provides a clearer picture of the consequences of the Sept. 8 attack than was available immediately afterward, when initial reports focused primarily on the number of missiles intercepted and the absence of American fatalities.
(Source: OAF Nation)
