Iran missile attack damages US jets in Jordan
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Iranian missiles hit Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti base, damaging one A-10 and about eight F-15s.
The strike shows Iran can still reach a key US air hub after months.
Background
The attack came after US forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Sept. 8, which Washington said was retaliation for Iran targeting a US Navy warship. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it fired at the Jordan base in response. Muwaffaq Salti, near Azraq, hosts the US 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and is a main hub for US air operations against Iran.
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 2026US forces destroy five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf, saying Iran had targeted a US Navy warship twice in two days.
- Night of Sept 8-9, 2026Iran fires ballistic missiles at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan; Jordan says its air defenses intercepted 18 of 20 missiles.
- Sep 9, 2026CBS News reports one A-10 lost a wing and about eight F-15s were lightly damaged and returned to service; US forces fired more than 30 Patriot interceptors.
- Sep 10, 2026President Trump denies any damage to US warplanes, saying 'No damage. No nothing.'
Who’s saying what
- Official
- A Trump administration official told Al Jazeera the Iranian response was ineffective against integrated air and missile defenses.
- Party
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed its strike hit maintenance, preparation and deployment areas for fighter jets and destroyed hangars used by US jets.
- Analysts
- Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies note the war has depleted US munitions, with about two-thirds of Patriot interceptors and over half of THAAD systems used up as of July 27.
Still unverified
The exact scale of damage is disputed: CBS and Air & Space Forces Magazine, citing anonymous people familiar with the matter, reported one A-10 lost a wing and about eight F-15s were lightly damaged, while President Trump said there was 'no damage.' The IRGC claimed hangars were destroyed; Jordanian and American officials pushed back on the scale, and neither side offered pictures. Missile counts vary by source (roughly 20 ballistic missiles, some reportedly with cluster warheads; interceptor figures range from more than 30 to above 60).