Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in eastern Jordan has become one of Washington’s most important air hubs for operations against Iran, and Iranian forces have targeted it repeatedly since the war began. But during an overnight barrage early Wednesday, some of the missiles finally got through. Nine American military aircraft were damaged despite one of the heaviest air-defense responses of the conflict.
Eight of those were F-15E Strike Eagles that sustained only light damage and have already returned to service, according to CBS. The ninth was an A-10 Thunderbolt II, the attack aircraft known as the Warthog, which was struck hard enough to lose a wing. No American deaths were reported.
The damage varied sharply between the aircraft, as the eight F-15E Strike Eagles sustained only light damage and have already returned to service. Oh the other hand, the A-10 Thunderbolt II was hit hard enough to lose a wing. That could make the A-10 far more difficult to return to service, especially as the Air Force has spent years winding down support for the aging jet.
The base held, but US forces burned through more than 30 Patriot interceptors
US forces fired more than 30 Patriot interceptors defending the base, which are expensive, and US stockpiles are limited. American officials have already voiced concern over shrinking stockpiles of Patriots and other precision munitions, and forcing Washington to spend dozens per barrage appears to be part of Iran’s strategy.
The attack was retaliation for a US strike earlier that day. Central Command said American forces destroyed five Iranian crude carriers after the Revolutionary Guard twice launched ballistic missiles at a US Navy warship. The warship evaded the missiles, and Iran promised a response.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would keep dismantling tankers tied to Iran’s oil trade for as long as Iran keeps targeting American naval vessels. The Revolutionary Guard said its launches targeted maintenance and deployment sites for F-35, F-16 and F-15 aircraft at the base.
Jordan’s military said it engaged 20 Iranian ballistic missiles and destroyed 18, with the remaining two falling in unpopulated areas. But that account raises an obvious question: how were nine American aircraft damaged? It’s important to note that no explanation has been offered for how the aircraft were hit if the interception rate was as high as reported.
This is the second time in two months that an Iranian attack has caused serious losses at the base. An attack in July killed three US Army soldiers. Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, Sgt. Angel Rampersad, and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan were all assigned to Army air and missile defense commands.
The conflict is also expanding elsewhere in the region, as Iran-backed Houthis resumed strikes on Saudi Arabia and Brent crude climbed above $100 a barrel. Trump has said he expects the war to end immediately after the November midterms, and he warned that the US could strike Iran’s fortified Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.
Published: Sep 10, 2026 01:00 pm